Resurgent broad-based US dollar weakness remained the main underlying theme in Asia on the final trading day of this week, as a result of which most majors benefited. However, the Kiwi emerged the big mover as well the strongest across the board, after the NZ FinMin Robertson talked up the NZD. The Yen remained better bid on the back of some improvement seen in the BoJ survey of firms (Tankan series) and BoJ headlines.
Among other related markets, the Asian equity markets traded mixed, with a late-recovery seen in the Japanese stocks, while commodities’ prices traded broadly subdued.
Main topics in Asia
Japan Tankan Large Manufacturing Index
Japan Tankan Large Manufacturing Index registered at 25 above expectations (24) in 4Q
UK PM May expected to back down on Brexit date plan - UK Times
According to the UK Times, British PM May is expected to back down on Brexit date plan.
South Korea to impose new Bitcoin measures from January 1, 2018
The South Korean blockchain association is out with the latest measures to be imposed on Bitcoin, with the key headlines found below.
NZ FinMin Robertson: "Comfortable" with trend in NZ dollar
New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson told CNBC in an interview on Friday that he was comfortable with the general trend of the New Zealand dollar.
Goldman Sachs require a 100% margin on some bitcoin futures trades
Tiffany Galvin, a spokeswoman for the US banking giant Goldman Sachs, said late-Thursday in a statement, the Bitcoin futures require a full margin deposit for some clients at least.
Key Focus ahead
Heading into Europe, we have a light calendar today after yesterday’s eventful one, with the only Eurozone trade balance data due to be reported at 10 GMT. Ahead of the US open, the BOE MPC member Haldane’s speech will be eyed, followed by the Canadian manufacturing sales, US industrial production, and capacity utilization data.
EUR/USD: 1.1800 back in sight on fresh DXY selling?
The post-ECB sell-off in the EUR/USD pair halted at 1.1765, as the bulls regain control and take the rates back towards the 1.1800 barrier amid resurgent USD selling seen across the board.
GBP/USD: Steady below 1.3450, eyes on UK politics and US data
The rebound in the GBP/USD pair from below 1.34 handle faltered just shy of the 1.3450 mark, leaving the rates in a consolidative mode heading towards the early European trading.
US industrial production to increase by 0.3% m/m in November – Barclays
Analysts at Barclays offer their thoughts on what to expect from today’s US industrial production data due to be released at 1415 GMT.
BoJ said to tweak message as dissenter calls for more easing - BBG
Bloomberg came out with the latest headline, citing that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is said to tweak message as dissenter calls for more easing.
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