Foreign exchange market. Asian session: U.S. dollar traded stronger against the most major currencies, the Japanese Yen and sterling trade stronger

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

00:00 Australia Consumer Inflation Expectation February +3.2% +4.0%

00:01 United Kingdom RICS House Price Balance January 11% 10% 7%

00:30 Australia Unemployment rate January 6.1% 6.2% 6.4%

00:30 Australia Changing the number of employed January +37.4 -4.7 -12.2

06:00 Japan Prelim Machine Tool Orders, y/y January +33.8% +20.4%

07:00 Germany CPI, m/m (Finally) January -1.0% -1.0% -1.1%

07:00 Germany CPI, y/y (Finally) January -0.3% -0.3% -0.4%

The U.S. dollar traded higher against the most major currencies, except the Japanese yen and sterling, in the absence of any major economic reports from the U.S.

Political developments in Greece and its plan not to continue the international bailout in a standoff with the European Union continue to weigh on the euro after the Eurozone Finance Minister Meetings. The meetings failed to reach an agreement and deliver a joint statement on the outcome. Greece's bailout will expire on February 28^th. Fears that Greece might leave the Eurozone, the "Grexit", weigh on the single currency.

Today U.S. data on Initial Jobless Claims, Retail Sales and Business Inventories are due at 13:30 GMT

The Australian dollar slumped versus the greenback for a third day after disappointing jobs data. The Unemployment Rate for January came in at 6.4%, the highest side 2002, 0.2% higher than forecasts and higher than the 6.1% in the previous month. The number of employed people sank by 12,200, far more than the expected decline of 4,700. Figures for December were revised up from +37,400 to +42,000. Consumer Inflation Expectation for February rose from +3.2% to +4.0%. The aussie has declined 5% in the last month. On February 2^nd the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to lower key rates. Markets await RBA's Governor Glenn Stevens speech scheduled for 22:30 GMT.

New Zealand's dollar added traded weaker against the greenback in Asian trade for a third consecutive day. Markets await data on the Food Price Index late in the day due at 21:45 GMT.

The Japanese yen traded stronger against the greenback on Thursday on disappointing jobs data from Australia and no deal in the talks between Greece and its international creditors as investors were looking for haven assets. Japan's Core Machinery Orders for December rose more-than-expected +8.3% from +1.3% in the previous month. Analysts expected an increase of +2.4%. Year on year orders rose +11.4% from -14.6% beating expectations of an increase of +5.9%.

EUR/USD: the euro traded weaker against the greenback

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

09:00 Eurozone EU Economic Summit

10:00 Eurozone Industrial production, (MoM) December +0.2% +0.3%

10:00 Eurozone Industrial Production (YoY) December -0.4% +0.3%

10:30 United Kingdom BOE Inflation Letter

10:30 United Kingdom BOE Gov Mark Carney Speaks

13:30 Canada New Housing Price Index December +0.1% +0.2%

13:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims February 278 278

13:30 U.S. Retail sales January -0.9% -0.3%

13:30 U.S. Retail sales excluding auto January -1.0% -0.4%

15:00 U.S. Business inventories December +0.2% +0.2%

21:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, m/m January +0.3%

21:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, y/y January +1.0%

22:30 Australia RBA's Governor Glenn Stevens Speech