Foreign exchange market. Asian session: the yen advanced

Economic calendar (GMT0):

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

00:00 New Zealand Westpac Consumer Sentiment Quarter IV 106

04:00 Japan BoJ Interest Rate Decision 0% 0%

04:00 Japan Bank of Japan Monetary Base Target 275 275

04:00 Japan BoJ Monetary Policy Statement

06:30 Japan BOJ Press Conference

The yen climbed after Bank of Japan unexpectedly announced an additional program to purchase ETFs at annual pace of 300 billion yen ($2.45 billion) and extended the current program of bond purchases. Policymakers voted 6 to 3 to extend the program.

The Australian dollar edged up on positive data from China, its major trading partner. MNI China business sentiment rose to 52.7 in December from 49.9 in November. Other data showed that prices of new houses in China rose by 0.9% pointing to modest growth. This gain was driven by sharp increases in Beijing and Shanghai (+7.7% y/y and 13.1% y/y respectively).

The New Zealand dollar climbed on business confidence data from ANZ. The corresponding index continued rising in December and reached 23 points compared to 14.6 in the previous month. The latest reading is the highest in eight months.

EUR/USD: the pair rose to $1.0855 in Asian trade

USD/JPY: the pair fell to Y121.95

GBP/USD: the pair traded within $1.4885-25

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

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

09:00 Eurozone Current account, unadjusted, bln October 33.1

13:30 Canada Wholesale Sales, m/m October -0.1% 0.1%

13:30 Canada Consumer Price Index m / m November 0.1% 0.1%

13:30 Canada Consumer price index, y/y November 1.0% 1.5%

13:30 Canada Bank of Canada Consumer Price Index Core, y/y November 2.1% 2.3%

14:45 U.S. Services PMI (Preliminary) December 56.1 56

18:00 U.S. FOMC Member Laсker Speaks