The Asia-Pacific session has been.............>

FOREX: The Asia-Pacific session has been remarkably subdued so far, with

participants awaiting China's Q4 GDP and monthly economic activity indicators

for December, due for release at the top of the hour. Little to report for G10

FX space, other than a modest lift in USD/JPY into the Tokyo fix.

- NZD/USD ticked lower ahead of the open as the local BusinessNZ m'fing PMI

slipped into contraction. The rate still finished the day in positive territory

and has tread water since.

- USD/KRW has been unimpressed by the BoK's monetary policy decision, as members

chose to leave the policy rate unchanged at 1.25%, as was widely expected.

- Apart from Chinese releases, today's data highlights include UK retail sales,

CPI numbers from Italy and the EZ, as well as U.S. housing starts, building

permits & industrial output. Speeches are due from Fed's Harker and Quarles.