A$ Finding Support From Stronger HK & China Equities, BoE Later

AUDUSD has been range trading during the APAC session after falling 0.5% on Wednesday after Fed reluctance to cut rates in March weighed on the Aussie. The pair is up 0.1% to 0.6574 supported by stronger US equity futures and some indices in HK & China. The USD index is down 0.2%.

• Aussie data was mixed for the AUD with building approvals and the NAB quarterly business survey coming in weak but Q4 export prices rising a stronger than expected 5.6% q/q.
• Aussie is down 0.2% to 1.0716 against the kiwi, close to the intraday low. AUDJPY is 0.1% lower at 96.40 off the low of 96.29. AUDEUR is up 0.1% though to 0.6077 and AUDGBP is slightly higher at 0.5179.
• Equity markets are mixed with the ASX down 1.0% but the KOSPI up 1.1% and the Hang Seng +1.5%. The S&P e-mini is 0.3% higher. Oil prices are stronger with WTI up 0.7% to $76.41/bbl. Copper is down 0.6% and iron ore around $132/t.
• Later there is US Q4 productivity/ULC, jobless claims, January manufacturing PMI/ISM as well as European PMIs and euro area January CPI. The Bank of England meets and is expected to leave rates unchanged. ECB’s Lagarde and Lane make appearances.