Foreign exchange market. Asian session: U.S. dollar traded lower against most major peers, adding gains against the aussie

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

00:00 China Bank holiday

04:30 Japan All Industry Activity Index, m/m December +0.1% -0.2% -0.3%

05:00 Japan BoJ monthly economic report

07:00 Switzerland Trade Balance January 1.52 1.23 3.43

The U.S. dollar traded lower against most major peers after weak U.S. economic data and the Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes release. The dovish minutes showed that the FED is concerned about raising benchmark interest rates too soon might harm the economic recovery. Slow growth in wages could become a restraining factor for household spending and could keep inflation below the targeted level. Low oil prices could have a negative influence on employment and investments in the sector. An increasingly stronger dollar hurts the export industry.

Today the negotiations about a Greek debt deal will remain in the focus. As time runs out for Greece markets were supported yesterday as Athens stated it will seek an extension of the loan agreement and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said that a compromise could be reached.

The Australian dollar declined on Thursday with no important data in the region published.

Chinese markets are closed today for the Lunar New Year holiday celebrations.

New Zealand's dollar advanced against the greenback. The PPI Input for the fourth quarter declined by -0.4%, more than the forecasted -0.2%. The PPI Output came in at -0.1% declining less than the -0.3% predicted.

The Japanese yen traded moderately stronger against the greenback on Thursday after better-than-expected export figures. Many markets are closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations Yesterday the Bank of Japan held its unprecedented monetary policy steady. The outlook for exports and factory output was upgraded and consumption remains firm according to BOJ Governor Kuroda. The Japanese Adjusted Merchandise Trade Balance came in at -406.1 billion for January. Economists expected a reading of -600 billion. The All Industry Activity Index declined by -0.3% in December compared to an increase of +0.1% in November. Analyst forecasted a decline by -0.2%.

EUR/USD: the euro traded stronger against the greenback

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

07:45 France CPI, m/m January +0.1% -0.9%

07:45 France CPI, y/y January +0.1%

09:00 Eurozone Current account, adjusted, bln December 18.1 23.3

09:00 Eurozone ECB Monetary Policy Meeting Accounts

11:00 United Kingdom CBI industrial order books balance February 4 7

13:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims February 304 305

15:00 Eurozone Consumer Confidence February -9 -8

15:00 U.S. Leading Indicators January +0.5% +0.4%

15:00 U.S. Mortgage Delinquencies Quarter IV 5.85%

15:00 U.S. Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey February 6.3 8.8

16:00 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories February +4.9