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

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

02:00 China Trade Balance, bln March 60.6 40.3 3.1

The U.S. dollar is trading broadly higher against its major peers as speculations about the timing of a future rate hike go on. Comments of some of the FOMC members about a rate hike this summer boosted the greenback.

The Australian dollar slumped against the U.S. dollar after the weaker-than-expected Chinese data. China is Australia's biggest trade partner due to Australia's raw material exports to the world's second largest economy.

The Chinese Trade Balance declined in March with exports slumping. The Balance fell to a surplus of 3.1 billion from 60.6 billion last month. Analysts expected a reading of 43.4 billion. Data on the Chinese GDP is scheduled for Wednesday.

New Zealand's dollar slumped against the greenback during the Asian in the absence of any major economic news.

The Japanese yen traded lower against the greenback in Asian trade. Yesterday at 23:50 GMT data on Core Machinery orders was reported. Orders for February declined -0.4%, less than the expected decline of -2.8%. The January reading was -1.7%. Year on year Order rose +5.9%, above the forecast of +3.7%. According to the minutes of the BoJ's March policy meetings board members said that the BoJ must pay closer attention to the effects of the aggressive monetary policy on Japanese government bonds.

EUR/USD: the euro traded almost flat against the greenback

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

18:00 U.S. Federal Budget

22:00 New Zealand NZIER Business Confidence Quarter I 23

23:01 United Kingdom BRC Retail Sales Monitor y/y March 0.2%