Risk-off at play in Asia, Kiwi – weakest, US NFP – In focus

By FXStreet The calm was spread across the financial markets in Asia, with traders remaining on the back foot ahead of the highly influential non-farm payrolls data from the US. Amid persisting risk-off, yen regained lost ground, while the Antipodeans were heavily sold-off on weaker oil prices.

Key headlines in Asia

Australia’s Dec retail sales fails to meet expectations

RBA’s SoMP: Growth outlook trimmed, more optimistic on jobs

PBOC may cut RRR after Chinese New Year holiday – BOCOM’s Lian

Fed’s Mester: Market moves don’t change US outlook

Dominating themes in Asia – centered on JPY, AUD and NZD

Today’s Asian session was almost a replica of Thursday’s Asian trades, with the US dollar stalling its selling spiral and making minor-recovery attempts against its major rivals. The US index, a gauge of the greenback’s relative strength, rises 0.10% to 96.61, recovering from fresh four month lows struck at 96.27 in the last US session.

However, the USD/JPY pair failed to benefit from the broad based US dollar recovery and turned back into the red as the yen regained momentum amid renewed sell-off in the Asian equities. The major now retreats slightly from fresh session lows reached at 116.56 and hovers around 116.70. Among the Antipodes, …read more

Source:: FX Street