The USD-buying theme remains the main driver across the fx space in Asia this Wednesday, as Treasury yields continued their run higher, awaiting the key FOMC minutes release. Among the Asia-pace currencies, the Aussie and Yen were the main losers, with the Antipodeans tumbling on the back of a bigger-than-expected drop in the Aus construction work done data while the latter lost ground to stronger USD and T-yields, despite moderate risk-aversion. The Kiwi also tracked the Aussie lower, alongside the sell-off in oil prices.
Main topics in Asia
Japan's Asakawa: Recent Yen moves are one-sided
Japan's Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Masatsugu Asakawa, hitting the wires today talking about recent market movements as they relate to the Yen.
Australia wage price index rose 0.6 percent in December quarter
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported the fourth quarter wage price index at 0.6 percent quarter-on-quarter vs. an expected gain of 0.5 percent.
BOJ's Funo - No need to be too pessimistic about the economy
Comments from Bank of Japan's (BOJ) Funo are crossing the wires via Livesquawk.
IMF on Australia - Near-term risks are more balanced
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) view of Australia economy is crossing the wires via Bloomberg and Livesquawk.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Governor, Adrian Orr
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has a new governor, Adrian Orr, who will begin his tenure at the head of New Zealand's central bank on March 27th.
Key Focus ahead
We have a data-heavy calendar ahead, with a raft of flash manufacturing and services PMI reports from across the Euro area economies to kick-off the session, followed by the UK labor market report, which will be closely eyed for fresh insights on the wage growth numbers.
Later in the NA session, BOE Governor Carney and his company will have their hearings on inflation and the economic outlook before Parliament's Treasury Select Committee (TSC). From the US docket, we have the Markit flash manufacturing and services PMI readings ahead of the existing home sales data. However, the US macro news will play a second fiddle to the FOMC latest meeting minutes release.
EUR/USD - Short-term bear reversal sighted ahead of EZ PMIs
The EUR/USD could regain its mojo if the preliminary Eurozone PMI (due today) show continued expansion in economic activity in February.
GBP/USD staying afloat ahead of unemployment, earnings data
It's a data-loaded Wednesday for the GBP/USD today with Average Earnings growth, ILO 3-month Unemployment Rate, Claimant Count, and Public Sector Net Borrowing, all dropping at 09:30 GMT.
UK: Strong jobs growth to continue and wage growth to pick up - Nomura
Analysts at Nomura are out with their expectations on today’s UK labor market report due to be released at 0930 GMT.
Preview of the FOMC minutes - Nomura
"The FOMC minutes from the 30-31 January meeting should provide additional color on what we perceived to be a marginally hawkish post-meeting statement (January FOMC Recap, Policy Watch, 31 January 2018).”
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