Usd/Jpy edged higher overnight to........>

DOLLAR-YEN: Usd/Jpy edged higher overnight to Y106.87 after BoJ dove Kataoka

stressed the need for additional easing to achieve inflation target quickly,

while BoJ Governor Kuroda & Japanese PM Abe reiterated their commitment to ultra

loose monetary policy. The pair failed to extend gains and later drifted to the

Y106.70/75 area ahead of the European open. Usd/Jpy last Y106.75.

- On the US calendar today Jobless Claims data and the January Personal Income

numbers are released at 1330GMT. The level of initial Jobless Claims is expected

to rise by 4,000 to 226,000 in the February 24 week after a surprise decline of

7,000 in the previous week. Personal Income is expected to rise by 0.3% in

December.

- At 1445GMT the final US February Markit manufacturing will be published,

followed by the ISM Manufacturing Index and Construction Spending at 1500GMT.

ISM is expected to fall further to 58.9 after dipping modestly to 59.1 in

January. Construction Spending is expected to rise by 0.3% in January.

- Fed Chair Powell delivers the second leg of his semi annual testimony,

starting at 1500GMT.