06:35 Japan BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda
Speaks
The euro snapped a two-day decline before data today on the region's current-account balance, which climbed to a record in March amid speculation investors repatriated funds from emerging markets. The European Central Bank will release data on the currency bloc's current-account balance today. A surplus in the balance, the broadest measure of international trade, climbed to 25.9 billion euros ($34.3 billion) in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the highest on record dating back to 1997.
The dollar headed for a weekly gain against all of its 16 major peers before U.S. data next week on home prices and durable-goods orders that may add to the case for a reduction in monetary stimulus that was outlined by the Federal Reserve on June 19. The U.S. Commerce Department is likely to say on June 25 that orders for U.S. durable goods rose 3 percent in May from April, expanding for a second month, according to the median estimate of economists in a Bloomberg News survey. A separate report may show the same day that the S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values jumped 10.6 percent in April from a year earlier, according to another poll of economists. That would almost match March's increase which was the most in seven years.
The yen erased an earlier gain along with Asian stocks before a speech today by Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda.
EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair rose to $ 1.3255
GBP / USD: during the Asian session the pair traded in the range of $ 1.5490/20
USD / JPY: during the Asian session the pair rose above Y97.50
Friday sees a quieter calendar, although markets will continue to deal with the fall out from the FOMC and the Bernanke comments. The data releases start at 0645GMT, with the release of the French Q1 employment and wages data. Economists are looking for a wages increase of 0.7% on quarter. Bundesbank Board member Joachim Nagel will give a speech on the euro crisis and German banks, starting at 0700GMT. Further EMU data will be released at 0800GMT, when the ECB April current account numbers will be released. At 0930GMT, the German government spokesperson will hold the regular press briefing, in Berlin.