Foreign exchange market. Asian session: the Australian dollar advanced

Economic calendar (GMT0):

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

00:00 Australia Conference Board Australia Leading Index June 0.2% -0.2%

03:00 New Zealand Expected Annual Inflation 2y from now Quarter III 1.9% 1.9%

06:00 Germany GDP (YoY) (Finally) Quarter II 1.1% 1.6% 1.6%

06:00 Germany GDP (QoQ) (Finally) Quarter II 0.3% 0.4% 0.4%

The Australian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar amid positive statistics from China. The country's Leading indicators index from the Conference Board rose to 0.9% in July from 0.6% reported previously. In May the index was above 1.1%. "July's gain in the Leading Economic Index for China was driven mainly by bank loans, while consumer sentiment, manufacturing, and exports were all weak," Said Jing Sima, senior economist at The Conference Board. He also noted that China's economy is likely to face increasing downside risks in the coming months. China is Australia's major trading partner.

The yen fell against the greenback amid correction in Japanese stocks. The Nikkei stepped into the green area. Yesterday the yen rose sharply amid lower expectations for global economic growth and inflation and uncertainties related to monetary policy tightening in the U.S. Now investors expect the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark rate in December or in 2016.

EUR/USD: the pair fell to $1.1525 in Asian trade

USD/JPY: the pair rose to Y120.10

GBP/USD: the pair traded within $1.5745-75

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

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

07:15 Switzerland Employment Level Quarter II 4.23 4.24

08:00 Germany IFO - Business Climate August 108 107.7

08:00 Germany IFO - Current Assessment August 113.9 113.9

08:00 Germany IFO - Expectations August 102.4 102

13:00 Belgium Business Climate August -4.1 -3.5

13:00 U.S. Housing Price Index, m/m June 0.4% 0.4%

13:00 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, y/y June 4.9% 5.1%

13:45 U.S. Services PMI (Preliminary) August 55.7 56

14:00 U.S. Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index August 13

14:00 U.S. New Home Sales July 482 510

14:00 U.S. Consumer confidence August 90.9 93.4

16:25 Canada BOC Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri Speaks

20:30 U.S. API Crude Oil Inventories August -2.3

22:45 New Zealand Trade Balance, mln July -60