Asian session: The Australian dollar strengthened

Data:

00:30 Australia Employment Change (Nov) 54.6

00:30 Australia Unemployment Rate (Nov) 5.2%

The Australian dollar strengthened against all its major counterparts after a government report showed employers added more than twice as many jobs as economists forecast.

Australia’s currency gained for the first time in four days against the greenback as the extra yield the South Pacific nation’s bonds offer over Treasuries widened and traders added to bets the central bank will boost interest rates.

Australia’s currency rallied after the statistics bureau said employers added 54,600 workers in November, reducing the unemployment rate to 5.2 percent from 5.4 percent in October. Economists forecast 20,000 extra jobs, according to a survey.

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens will increase the benchmark rate by 41 basis points over the next 12 months, up from a prediction of 24 basis points at the end of last week, according to a Credit Suisse AG index.

EUR/USD: the pair shown high above a mark $1,3300.

GBP/USD: the pair bargained within the limits of $1,5790-$ 1,5840.

USD/JPY: the pair decreased below mark Y84,00.

At 0900GMT, the ECB releases the December Monthly Bulletin, although this is usually built around the opening statement of the ECB President at the recent post-meeting press conference. UK data starts at 0800GMT with the monthly Halifax House Prices data for November. UK data continues at 0930GMT with trade data and also SMMT Car Production. At 1200GMT, the Bank of England MPC Monetary Policy Announcement is due, but given the latest signs that the moderate UK economic recovery remains steadily on track going into the fourth quarter, there seems little cause for the majority of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to come down off the fence at the December policy meeting.