Japanese Yen - JPY
- Japanese machine orders rise less than expected for the month of April, increases 2.2 percent on the month over month comparison. Places overall annualized figures lower by 9 percent on the year over year.
- Ministry of Finance official Watanabe notes that there is no immediate risk of a carry trade unwind, helps to boost yen crosses slightly in the overnight.
Australian Dollar - AUD - Australian home loans for April higher than expected, rises 2.2 percent for the monthly comparison.
Europe - EUR/GBP - April OECD leading indicators for the month of April rises to 110.0, bullish for the economy, previous figures were additionally revised higher.
- German April industrial production declines in the month over month by 2.3 percent, pits the annualized at a 3.8 percent increase - as expected by the consensus.
- UK April production figures were slightly higher, rising 0.3 percent in the monthly. Manufacturing surprised to the upside, jumping 1.3 percent on the year over year figure.
- ECB policymaker Smaghi states that rate hikes help to contain inflationary pressures, boosts speculation of near term rate hikes.