After a relatively quiet start to the U.S.....>

FOREX: After a relatively quiet start to the U.S. session on Thursday, momentum

picked up on a break through session lows for USD/JPY, prompted by a poor

showing from U.S. equities & a strong day for Treasuries.

- Lower Tsys yields allowed the JPY to gain, with EUR/JPY printing the lowest

levels observed since September (sub Y129.00), as Italian & Spanish fiscal

worries added additional pressure to the cross.

- EUR was lower on the day on the aforementioned fiscal issues, while GBP

struggled on the back of the latest bout of Brexit impasse.

- The Scandis were the underperformers, with SEK & NOK both dented by souring

sentiment via. poor commodities prices.

- Focus Friday turns to Chinese GDP, Japanese CPI, UK PSNB figures, as well as

Canadian CPI & retail sales. Elsewhere BOJ's Kuroda, Fed's Bostic & Kaplan and

BoE's Carney are also due to speak.