The U.S. dollar rose against the yen on expectations of a looming U.S. rate hike next week. Several times Fed Chair Janet Yellen pointed to a possibility of a liftoff in interest rates at December meeting in case of sustained economic growth and lower unemployment rate. Last week data showed that the unemployment rate remained at record-low 5% in November, while the number of employed outside the farming sector rose by 211,000. Higher rates would boost the dollar.

Today market participants are waiting for data on U.S. retail sales. A median forecast suggests that the corresponding index remained unchanged in November after a 0.4% rise in the previous month.

The New Zealand dollar traded near yesterday's high. The currency advanced in the previous session after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.5% and signaled that this was the last rate cut in the current cycle.

EUR/USD: the pair fluctuated within $1.0925-45 in Asian trade

USD/JPY: the pair rose to Y122.25

GBP/USD: the pair fell to $1.5135

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

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

07:00 Germany CPI, m/m (Finally) November 0.0% 0.1%

07:00 Germany CPI, y/y (Finally) November 0.3% 0.4%

09:30 United Kingdom Consumer Inflation Expectations 2%

10:15 Eurozone Targeted LTRO 15.5

13:30 U.S. Retail sales November 0.1% 0.3%

13:30 U.S. Retail Sales YoY November 1.7%

13:30 U.S. Retail sales excluding auto November 0.2% 0.3%

13:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, m/m November -0.3% 0.1%

13:30 U.S. PPI excluding food and energy, Y/Y November 0.1% 0.2%

13:30 U.S. PPI, m/m November -0.4% 0%

13:30 U.S. PPI, y/y November -1.6% -1.4%

15:00 U.S. Business inventories October 0.3% 0.1%

15:00 U.S. Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Preliminary) December 91.3 92

15:35 United Kingdom MPC Member Weale Speaks