Bank of Japan governor Kuroda blindsided......>

FOREX: Bank of Japan governor Kuroda blindsided USD/JPY in late Asia after

remarks that said the BoJ will begin to consider an exit from easy policy

"around 2019". The Jpy strengthened across the board with a move through

Y106.00, Jpy demand continued at the NY crossover, rate touched fresh 15-mth

lows of Y105.25 before dip buyers cushioned falls. The rate failed to rally

through NY with recovery efforts capped ahead of Y105.70.

- Choppy markets ahead of PM May's Brexit speech saw Eur/Gbp take out the

reported barrier through Gbp0.8950, Gbp/Usd reversed back under $1.3800, later

settling around $1.3760-80. The overriding theme was there was not a lot of

vision from PM May's speech which saw GBP drift throughout.

- Eur/Usd consolidated above $1.2300 in narrow range trade as focus turns to the

weekend's political event risk with the Italian elections and German Coalition.

- Usd/Cad moved through C$1.2900 after soft headline GDP (1.7% VS 2.0% exp).

Eur/Nok pared half its morning losses to Nok9.63 following the earlier

announcement to lower central bank inflation to 2%.