AUD was offered as underwhelming Australian...>

FOREX: AUD was offered as underwhelming Australian data continued to pile up.

Monthly retail sales ground to a halt despite expectations that the previous

0.2% M/M increase will accelerate to 0.3%. The reading added to concerns about

the condition of consumer spending in Australia after a very limited Q3

household consumption figure released yesterday. Trade surplus shrunk more than

expected, driven by a decline in exports twinned with unchanged imports.

- The bulk of NZD strength gradually dissipated, although the currency

outperformed early on. It turned bid as the RBNZ decided to give lenders seven

rather than five years to raise capital buffers, while ANZ revised their RBNZ

easing call to just one more 25bp cut in May next year.

- JPY fluctuated amid chatter surrounding Japanese stimulus package.

- USD/KRW tried to fill y'day's gap but the 100-DMA stood in its way & the rate

trimmed losses. KRW was aided by a twist in exp. re: U.S.-China trade talks.

- The EZ will report retail sales as well as final GDP and employment today.

German & U.S. factory orders also due, as are U.S. & Canadian trade figures.

Fed's Quarles, ECB's Makhlouf, BoC's Lane and Riksbank's Floden will speak.