Aud/Usd: European open $0.7648,......>

AUSSIE SUMMARY: Aud/Usd: European open $0.7648, range $0.7636-52, NY open

$0.7645, range $0.7597-0.7646

* Strong Australian Retail Sales (0.5% vs MNI median 0.3%) provided the early

appetite in Asia, Aud/Usd lifted from $0.7608 to $0.7646 on reaction.

* The RBA left rates unchanged at 1.5% for the 15th consecutive month. The

prepared text was seen mildly hawkish after it revealed optimistic prospects of

wage growth, however it did raise continued concerns over household consumption.

* The European morning session was a quiet affair, trade volumes remained light

tied to a narrow $0.7636-52 range

* As the dollar gained a fresh bid tone across the board, Aud broke the narrow

European morning range with slippage extending to $0.7603. The move lower helped

by the fact that gold slipped more than $10 on the day possibly on

mid-East/Saudi accounts cashing in.

* The next area of support after the intra-day low of $0.7597 for Aud/Usd is

noted at $0.7580/52 (Dec4 low, Dec1 & Nov29 lows)