Traders reported of light volumes............>

DOLLAR: Traders reported of light volumes overnight with the DXY held to a

narrow 96.82-89 range. The Antipodeans outperformed on fiscal stimulus comments

from the Chinese Fin Min. Soft AU Retail Sales were countered by improved trade

balance data which revealed a wider surplus.

- DXY topside gains have so far been capped around 97 which holds double top

resistance & the 76.4% retracement level of 97.36-95.82, above here opens the

Feb 19/Feb 15 highs at 97.08/36.

- Gold largely holds between $1281-1291, searching for direction. A topside

break of the Mar 4 high at $1296.96 opens the 55-dma at $1299.25, ahead of

resistance at the $1300 level. While a downside break of $1280 brings the

100-dma back into view at $1267.73.

- WTI & Brent trade $0.20 and $0.30 higher respectively, after the benchmarks

lodged modest gains on Wednesday.

- US Jobless Claims & non-farm Productivity are released at 1330GMT. Speeches

also scheduled from NY Fed Vice President Simon Potter in London at 1530GMT and

Lael Brainard in Princeton at 1715GMT.