The euro exchange rate fell sharply against the dollar, which has been associated with Draghi comments. Trichet said that the authorities are ready to act again, after the Central Bank lowered the rate to 0.50%.
Draghi's comments, made in Rome include recommendations to the government, support tax cuts and a more equitable distribution of wealth in the euro area in order to increase economic activity. However, fiscal consolidation is still mandatory, especially for countries with the highest levels of debt.
We also add that in early trading little impact on the couple gave a report on retail sales, which showed that in March retail sales in the eurozone fell by 2.4% per year versus -1.7% previously and forecast of -2.2%. Note that a monthly basis, this figure fell to 0.1% from 0.2% in February, which was in line with expectations.
No less important was the report that showed that in April, the German services PMI fell to 49.6 against 50.9 the previous month and the forecast of 49.2, Italian PMI exceeded the forecast of 45.8 and up from 45.5 to 47.0; Spanish indicator fell from 45.3 to 44.4 (forecast 45.7 ). PMI Services eurozone rose to 47.0 from 46.4, exceeding the forecast of 46.6, while the composite PMI improved to 46.9 vs. 46.5.
The cost of the Canadian dollar was higher against the U.S. dollar after a report from the Ivey showed that the index of business activity fell markedly in the last month, beating forecasts with experts. According to the report, the seasonally adjusted value of the index fell in April to a level of 52.2, up from 61.6 in March. Note that according to estimates, the figure was reduced to the level of 58.3. Recall that, as the value of this index is above 50, indicating expansion in consumer activity. The report also stated that the employment sub-index in April was 55.1, indicating that employment was higher than in the previous month. Meanwhile, it became known that the sub-index stocks amounted to 52.7, a sub-price index stood at 58.7, while the sub-index reached 49.5 deliveries. Note that not seasonally adjusted business activity index was 50.9 in April
The Australian dollar fell against the U.S. dollar after the data, which were released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that retail sales in Australia fell in the month of March, showing at the same time the first decline in three months, which was mainly due to the decline in consumer spending on household goods as well as clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. According to the report, the seasonally adjusted retail sales fell by 0.4 percent, after rising 1.3 percent in each of the past two months. Economists had expected a rise of 0.1 percent. Note that, according to most experts predicted average sales should grow by 0.2 percent.
The data also showed that the retail sale of household goods in March decreased by 1.5 percent, while spending on clothing, footwear and personal accessories fell 4.2 percent.
Sales at department stores fell 0.1 percent, while growth in food sales slowed to 0.8 percent.
Meanwhile, the Australian Financial Review today reported that the Treasury of Australia lowered the GDP growth forecast for the current and next fiscal year. As it became known, GDP growth forecast lowered by 0.25% to 2.75% in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
EUR/USD
$1.2935, $1.2950, $1.3100, $1.3195, $1.3200
USD/JPY Y98.00, Y98.50, Y98.80
AUD/USD $1.0200, $1.0250, $1.0330, $1.0350
EUR/GBP stg0.8500
EUR/CHF Chf1.2175, Chf1.2250
NZD/USD Nz$0.8500
EUR/USD
Offers $1.3200, $1.3155/60, $1.3150
Bids $1.3080, $1.3050, $1.2980/77
GBP/USD
Offers $1.5700, $1.5650, $1.5630, $1.5600
Bids $1.5550, $1.5520/00, $1.5475/65, $1.5450
AUD/USD
Offers $1.0390/00, $1.0380, $1.0345/50, $1.0330, $1.0290/00
Bids $1.0220, $1.0200, $1.0185/80, $1.0155/50, $1.0120/15, $1.0100
USD/JPY
Offers Y100.00, Y99.55/60, Y99.50
Bids Y99.10/00, Y98.50, Y98.25/20, Y98.00, Y97.80/60
EUR/JPY
Offers Y132.00, Y131.50, Y131.00, Y130.50
Bids Y129.55/50, Y129.20, Y129.00, Y128.80/70, Y128.50
EUR/GBP
Offers stg0.8500/10, stg0.8480/85, stg0.8450
Bids stg0.8370/65, stg0.8350
EUR/USD
$1.2935, $1.2950, $1.3100, $1.3195, $1.3200
USD/JPY Y98.00, Y98.50, Y98.80
AUD/USD $1.0200, $1.0250, $1.0330, $1.0350
EUR/GBP stg0.8500
EUR/CHF Chf1.2175, Chf1.2250
NZD/USD Nz$0.8500
01:30 Australia Retail sales (MoM)
March +1.3% +0.2% -0.4%
01:30 Australia Retail Sales Y/Y March +4.6%
01:30 Australia ANZ Job Advertisements (MoM) April -1.5% -1.3%
01:45 China HSBC Services PMI April 54.3 51.1
The yen held a loss against the dollar after its biggest decline in two weeks on signs the U.S. recovery is gathering pace. The yen depreciated beyond 99 per dollar on May 3 for the first time in a week after a U.S. Labor Department report showed employment picked up more than forecast last month and the jobless rate declined to 7.5 percent. Payrolls expanded by 165,000 workers last month following a revised 138,000 increase in March that was larger than first estimated. Initial jobless claims probably rose in the seven days ended May 4 from a more than five-year low of 324,000 the week before. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ahead of the May 9 report is for claims of 335,000.
Australia's currency slid against all 16 of its most-traded peers after a report showed retail sales unexpectedly shrank, a day before the central bank decides on interest rates. In Australia, retail sales unexpectedly fell 0.4 percent in March after gaining 1.3 percent the previous month, a government report showed today. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted a gain of 0.1 percent. There's a 51 percent chance that the RBA will lower its benchmark 3 percent rate when it meets tomorrow, Bloomberg calculations based on overnight-index swap rates indicate.
Japanese markets are closed today for a holiday.
EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair rose $ 1.3140
GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair rose $ 1.5600
USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair around Y99.10
There is a full data calendar in Europe Monday, although market reactions could be muted, with the UK centre closed to celebrate the Bank Holiday. The early releases on the Continent will see the final April services PMI numbers cross the wires. Spanish services PMI numbers are first up, at 0713GMT, followed by Italy at 0743GMT, France at 0748GMT, Germany at 0753GMT and the overall EMU data due at 0758GMT . No doubt these PMI data will confirm the narrative already seen in the flash data 10 days or so ago and which proved, in part, the catalyst for he ECB to take the recent policy action it did. At 0900GMT, the EMU March retail trade numbers will hit the screens. At 1300GMT, ECB President Mario Draghi is slated to speak in Rome, with ears open to any nuances following the rate cut last Thursday. Comments form Pierre Moscovici, French FinMin, are likely to further undermine the simmering tensions between Germany and France, the FT says. According to the FT, Moscovici hailed the "end of the dogma of austerity" in a radio interview after his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schauble, offered more flexibility on deficit cutting.
01:30 Australia Retail sales (MoM)
March +1.3% +0.2%
01:30 Australia Retail Sales Y/Y March +4.6%
01:30 Australia ANZ Job Advertisements (MoM) April -1.5%
01:45 China HSBC Services PMI April 54.3
06:00 United Kingdom Bank holiday
07:00 United Kingdom Halifax house price index April +0.2% +0.2%
07:00 United Kingdom Halifax house price index 3m Y/Y April +1.1%
07:50 France Services PMI (Finally) April 44.1 44.1
07:55 Germany Services PMI (Finally) April 49.2 49.2
08:00 Eurozone Services PMI (Finally) April 46.6 46.6
08:30 Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence May -17.3 -14.6
09:00 Eurozone Retail Sales (MoM) March -0.3% -0.1%
09:00 Eurozone Retail Sales (YoY) March -1.4% -2.2%
12:30 Canada Building Permits (MoM) March +1.7% +0.7%
13:00 Eurozone ECB President Mario Draghi Speaks
14:00 Canada Ivey Purchasing Managers Index April 61.6 58.3
22:45 New Zealand Private Sector Labor Costs (ex. overtime), q/q Quarter I +0.5% +0.5%