Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual
00:15Australia RBA's Governor Glenn Stevens Speech
00:30 Australia ANZ Job Advertisements (MoM) January +1.8% 1.3%
05:00 Japan Consumer Confidence January 38.8 39.4 39.1
06:00 Japan Eco Watchers Survey: Current January 45.2 45.7 45.6
06:00 Japan Eco Watchers Survey: Outlook January 46.7 50
07:00 Germany Trade Balance December 17.7 18.2 21.8
07:00 Germany Current Account December 18.6 25.3
The U.S. dollar traded mixed against most major currencies after data on the U.S. economy on Friday that reinforced speculations on a mid-year rate-hike. The U.S. economy added 257,000 jobs in January, exceeding expectations for a rise of 231,000 jobs, after a gain of 329,000 jobs in December. December's figure was revised up from a rise of 252,000 jobs. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 5.7% in January from 5.6% in December as the number of job seekers grew. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 5.6%. Average hourly earnings increased 0.5% in January, beating forecasts of a 0.2% gain, after a 0.2% drop in December.
The euro paused its decline after worries over Greek debt negotiations weighed on the single currency on Friday. On late Friday S&P downgraded Greece from B- to B, only one notch higher than "default" and kept the outlook for Greece negative.
The Australian dollar declined versus the greenback close to lows hit a week ago when the RBA eased monetary policy. Data on China's Trade Balance released on Sunday fuelled worries about the economic growth of Australia's major trading partner. The ANZ Job Advertisements for January rose less at a pace of +1.3% in January compared to +1.8% in December. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens said Australian businesses must prepared for an increase in use of the Chinese yuan for trade as Chinese companies will more and more wish to settle trades in RMB.
New Zealand's dollar added gains against the greenback in Asian trade. The RBNZ Governor Graeme Wheeler said on Wednesday last week that interest rates will remain on hold "for some time".
The Japanese yen traded higher against the greenback on Monday after Friday's slump despite disappointing current account data. Yesterday Japan reported the adjusted current account with a deficit of 187.2 billion Japanese yen. Today data on consumer confidence came in at 39.1 for January compared to a forecast of 39.4 points and a previous reading of 38.8. The Eco Watchers Survey (current) had a reading of 45.6, 0.1 points below forecasts. The Eco Watchers Survey (outlook) rose in January from 46.7 to 50 points.
EUR/USD: the euro traded higher against the greenback
USD/JPY: the U.S. dollar lost against the yen
(time / country / index / period / previous value / forecast)
08:00 G20 G20 Meetings
09:30 Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence February 0.9 3.4
13:15 Canada Housing Starts January 180 Revised From 181 184
21:00 U.S. FOMC Member Jerome Powell Speaks
23:50 Japan Tertiary Industry Index December +0.2% +0.1%