Foreign exchange market. Asian session: U.S. dollar traded mixed against its major peers

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

00:30 Australia Home Loans January +2.7% -1.9% -3.5%

05:30 China Retail Sales y/y February +11.9% +11.6% +10.7%

05:30 China Industrial Production y/y February +7.9% +7.7% +6.8%

05:30 China Fixed Asset Investment February +15.7% +15.1% +13.9%

06:30 France Non-Farm Payrolls (Finally) Quarter IV 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against its major peers on Wednesday, still supported by speculations on a rate hike in June. Job openings climbed to 4.998 million in January from 4.877 million in December. That was the highest level since January 2001. Wholesale inventories in the U.S. rose 0.3% in January, missing expectations for a flat reading. Inventories of durable goods increased 0.6% in January, while inventories of non-durable goods fell by 0.1%.

The euro and sterling stabilized after yesterday's plunge with sterling slightly positive and the euro currently at USD1.0673. Quantitative Easing and concerns over Greece weigh on the single currency.

The Australian dollar declined against the greenback to a new five-week low at USD0.7586 currently quoted at USD0.7604. The Westpac Consumer Confidence index declined by -1.2% for the month of March. Assistant Governor of the RBA Christopher Kent said that the record low interest rate of 2.25% together with other steps taken by the bank should help to boost economic growth, sustain activity in the housing sector and support household wealth. Home Loans declined by -3.5% in January, more than the expected -1.9%.

Chinese Retail Sales rose less-than expected +10.7%. Analyst expected +11.6% in February compared to +11.9% in January. Industrial Production in the second largest economy rose +6.8% year on year, below the estimated growth of +7.7%. Fixed Asset Investment came in at +13.9%, also below expectations of an increase of 15.1%.

New Zealand's dollar lost ground against the greenback in the absence any major economic reports from New Zealand. Today markets await the RBNZ Interest Rate Decision and the following Rate Statement at 20:00 GMT. At 21:45 GMT data on Food Prices are to be reported.

The Japanese yen traded lower against the greenback on Wednesday but above the new 8-year low at USD122.02 set yesterday. Core Machinery Orders for January declined less-than-expected in January with a reading of -1.7% compared to +8.3% in the previous month and forecasts of a deline of -3.8%.

EUR/USD: the euro lower higher against the greenback

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

09:30 United Kingdom Industrial Production (MoM) January -0.2% +0.2%

09:30 United Kingdom Industrial Production (YoY) January +0.5%

09:30 United Kingdom Manufacturing Production (MoM) January +0.1% +0.3%

09:30 United Kingdom Manufacturing Production (YoY) January +2.4%

14:30 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories March +10.3

15:00 United Kingdom NIESR GDP Estimate February +0.7%

18:00 U.S. Federal budget February -17.5 -187.3

20:00 New Zealand RBNZ Interest Rate Decision 3.50% 3.50%

20:00 New Zealand RBNZ Rate Statement

20:05 New Zealand RBNZ Press Conference

21:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, m/m February +1.3%

21:45 New Zealand Food Prices Index, y/y February +1.2%

23:50 Japan Tertiary Industry Index January -0.3% +0.6%

23:50 Japan BSI Manufacturing Index Quarter I 8.1 5.7