Aussie-dollar was the star performer during...>

FOREX: Aussie-dollar was the star performer during the Asia-Pacific session, the

pair rising from $0.7597 to $0.7651, the move was supported by upbeat Australian

Retail Sales data and improved Caixin China Composite/Services PMI. As expected,

RBA left the cash rate on hold and their statement looked little altered from

November's. Kiwi followed its Tasman neighbour higher, the rate climbing from

$0.6852 to $0.6905, the move came after a speech by RBNZ's Spencer, however,

traders suggested the move was more about positioning rather than anything said

by the RBNZ governor, with intraday spec accounts expecting a more dovish tone.

Dollar-yen consolidated between Y112.38 and Y112.58, slightly stronger US rate

yields were somewhat negated by a softer Nikkei, leaving the yen largely

unchanged on the session. Meanwhile, euro-dollar currently trades at $1.1873 and

cable at $1.3470, after trading in respective ranges of $1.1862 to $1.1877 and

$1.3463 to $1.3482.