Foreign exchange market. Asian session: U.S. dollar traded stronger against the most major currencies

(Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual

00:00 Japan Bank holiday

00:30 Australia Home Loans December -0.4% Revised From -0.7% +2.3% +2.7%

The U.S. dollar traded stronger against most major currencies with better-than-expected U.S. job openings figures. The greenback traded stronger against the euro and the Australian dollar, the yen and sterling and lost against New Zealand's dollar. Job openings climbed to 5.028 million in December from 4.847 million in November. That was the highest level since January 2001. November's figure was revised down from 4.972 million. Analysts had expected job openings to rise to 4.992 million. Wholesale inventories in the U.S. rose 0.1% in December, missing expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a 0.8% gain in November. The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker said on Tuesday that interest rate hike in June is "the attractive option" for him.

Political developments in Greece continue to weigh on the euro ahead of the Eurozone Meetings. Yesterday Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won a confidence vote in Greek Parliament on his plan to cancel the international bailout.

The Australian dollar lost versus the greenback in Asian trade and gave up some of its early gains. Yesterday the Westpac Consumer Confidence surged 8%, climbing into positive territory for the first time since February 2014 on the rate cut and low fuel prices. Home loans in December rose +2.7%, from revised -0.4% in November. Analysts expected an increase of +2.3%. RBA's Assistant Governor Debelle will speak today at 22:00 GMT.

New Zealand's dollar added traded weaker against the greenback in Asian trade. Markets await data on Business NZ PMI late in the day due at 21:30 GMT.

The Japanese yen traded weaker against the greenback on Wednesday. Japan's makrets are closed today for a bank holiday. Data on Core Machinery Orders is scheduled for 23:50 GMT today.

EUR/USD: the euro traded weaker against the greenback

(time / country / index / period / previous value / forecast)

15:30 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories February +6.3

17:30 Eurozone Eurogroup Meetings

19:00 U.S. Federal budget January 1.9 -2.6

21:30 New Zealand Business NZ PMI January 57.7

Australia RBA Assist Gov Debelle Speaks

23:50 Japan Core Machinery Orders December +1.3% +2.4%

23:50 Japan Core Machinery Orders, y/y December -14.6% +5.9%