EUR/USD trades 15 pips or so higher.....>

EURO-DOLLAR: EUR/USD trades 15 pips or so higher at writing, last $1.1369, with

the USD marginally lower vs. most of its major counterparts thus far.

- Rate shed ~40 pips on Wednesday as U.S. stocks surged.

- EU budget commissioner Oettinger has told Funke Media Group that "we will

tolerate a national budget deficit higher than three percent as a one-time

exception. However, it must not continue beyond 2019," following the recent

protests in France.

- Initial resistance noted at the 50% retracement of the move from $1.1486 to

$1.1356 at $1.1421, while support is noted at the December 26 low of $1.1343.

- Looking ahead, German CPI data will hit on Friday, with familiar matters

including Brexit & Italy, as well as broader USD gyrations set to drive the pair

this week.