Foreign exchange market. Asian session: the dollar little changed

Economic calendar (GMT0):

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

00:05 United Kingdom Gfk Consumer Confidence December 1 1 2

07:00 Germany Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey January 9.3 9.3 9.4

07:00 Switzerland Trade Balance November 4.16 3.82 3.14

The U.S. dollar traded range-bound against major currencies ahead of Christmas at the end of the current working week. Trading is not expected to be dynamic this week. At the same time many traders have already closed their positions ahead of the end of the year, which increases market volatility. On Thursday, December 24, markets in Germany and Italy will be closed. On December 25 markets in other European countries as well as in Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand will be on holiday.

The U.S. National Association of Realtors will publish existing home sales data at 15:00 GMT. According to a median forecast sales rose to 5.4 million in November compared to 5.36 million in October. Final U.S. Q3 GDP data will be published today at 13:30 GMT.

The Australian dollar rose on China leading economic indicator data from the Conference Board. The index rose by 0.6% in November after a 0.3% increase in October and a 1.6% rise in September. Electricity production, retail sales of consumer goods and value-added industrial production rose.

EUR/USD: the pair fluctuated within $1.0900-25 in Asian trade

USD/JPY: the pair traded within Y121.10-30

GBP/USD: the pair traded within $1.4875-95

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

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

09:30 United Kingdom PSNB, bln November -7.47 -11

13:30 U.S. PCE price index ex food, energy, q/q (Finally) Quarter III 1.9% 1.3%

13:30 U.S. GDP, q/q (Finally) Quarter III 3.9% 1.9%

14:00 Belgium Business Climate December -3.9 -4

14:00 U.S. Housing Price Index, m/m October 0.8% 0.4%

15:00 U.S. Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index December -3 -1

15:00 U.S. Existing Home Sales November 5.36 5.37

21:45 New Zealand Trade Balance, mln November -963 -809.5