Regional economic data provided much..........>

FOREX: Regional economic data provided much interest, with one eye on Sino-U.S.

tensions. A New York Times report noting that the White House considers banning

all members of the Chinese Communist Party and their families from travelling to

the U.S. roiled risk appetite. The story took the wind out of the Kiwi's sails,

after the currency drew some support from better than expected NZ Q2 CPI data.

NZD softened alongside the likes of NOK & AUD, with the latter facing additional

pressure as Victoria recorded a record spike in new Covid-19 cases. Aussie jobs

report provoked a limited, whip-saw reaction, as breakdown data was a mixed bag.

- China's Q2 GDP & Jun activity indicators topped expectations, in net terms,

even as retail sales lagged consensus. The data failed to elicit a positive

response from the redback, with risk aversion pushing USD/CNH towards CNH7.0.

- The BoK left its policy rate unch., with Gov Lee pledging readiness to use

unconventional MonPol if needed. Dovish rhetoric, coupled with weaker sentiment,

weighed on KRW. USD/IDR climbed past y'day's highs ahead of BI MonPol decision.

- Focus turns to ECB MonPol decision, UK unemployment & U.S. initial jobless

claims, comments from BoE's Bailey and Fed's Williams, Bostic & Evans.