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

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

04:30 Japan Industrial Production (MoM) (Finally) January +4.0% +4.0% +3.7%

04:30 Japan Industrial Production (YoY) (Finally) January -2.6% -2.6% -2.8%

The U.S. dollar traded higher against its major peers on Friday after mixed data reported yesterday. U.S. business inventories were flat in January, below expectations for a 0.2% increase, after a flat reading in December. The U.S. retail sales dropped 0.6% in February, missing expectations for a 0.5% increase, after a 0.8% decline in January. Initial jobless claims in the week ending March 07 in the U.S. fell by 36,000 to 289,000 from 325,000 in the previous week. Business Inventories came in +0.0%. Analysts expected an increase of +0.2%.

Market participants look ahead to the upcoming FOMC meeting next week to see if the "patient" wording will be changed.

The euro is trading slightly lower against the U.S. dollar after taking a breather of its recent plunge yesterday. Quantitative Easing and concerns over Greece continue to weigh on the single currency.

The Australian dollar declined against the greenback with no major data reported in the region

New Zealand's dollar further lost against the greenback after the RBNZ Interest Rate Decision and the following Rate Statement from yesterday. The official benchmark rate remains unchanged at 3.5% even as the bank cut 90-day bill forecasts. RBZ Governor Wheeler said that rates are entering a period of stability. Future measures, rate cuts or hikes, taken by the bank will depend on economic data. New Zealand's Food Price Index for February came in at -0.7% compared to +1.3% in the previous period.

The Japanese yen traded lower against the greenback on Friday closer to an 8-year low set on Tuesday in a light data day in Asia. Industrial Production in January came in at +3.7%, below estimates of an unchanged reading of +4.0%. Year on year Industrial Production declined by 2.8%, more than the predicted 2.6%.

EUR/USD: the euro traded lower against the greenback

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

12:30 Canada Employment February 35.4 21.3

12:30 Canada Unemployment rate February 6.6% 6.5%

12:30 U.S. PPI, m/m February -0.8% +0.2%

12:30 U.S. PPI, y/y February 0.0%

12:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, m/m February -0.1% -0.1%

12:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, Y/Y February +1.6%

14:00 U.S. Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Preliminary) March 95.4 95.6