Session Recap: USD little changed despite volatility in Aussie and Yen ahead of NFP

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - The USD index has eased a bit below the 81.50 mark last at 81.39, despite the fact Aussie was heavily sold off from above the 0.96 USD level by the NY close to session lows at 0.9462 on thin local markets ahead of a 3-day weekend in Australia, and USD/JPY was also hammered from session highs at 97.50 to session lows at 96.14.

EUR/USD instead has remained more stable around the 1.3240/50 level, thus DXY (USD index) little changed, gaining against Aussie and losing against Yen. Gold and Oil were mostly flat for the Asia-Pacific as well, waiting for big US NFP data at 12:30 GMT, with markets now expecting a soft figure following ADP disappointing number on Wednesday.

With lack of domestic economic data, local share markets show losses all across the board with no exception despite big reversal in US equity markets by the NY close after finding support at the 200 day SMA. Nikkei index has posted losses of -2.5% at some point in the session after Tokyo lunch break, last at -1.93%, Hang-Seng -1.46%, Shanghai -1.23%, Kospi -1.52%, and Australian ASX -0.73%.

Main headlines in the Asian Session:

EUR/USD notches impressive day to close above 1.3200

Heads up for Australian dollar traders particularly – big weekend for Chinese economic data coming up

Kiwi/Yen suffers steep declines closing at 2 month lows

Japan’s economy minister Amari: Amari says FX market reacting to unstable factors overseas

EUR/AUD posts highest daily close since Oct 2011

Australia AiG Performance of Construction Index increase to 35.3 in May from 35.2

Commodities Brief: Precious metals still range bound ahead of NFP

Japan’s economy minister Amari: Japan’s real economy is recovering steadily

USD/JPY breaks below 97 figure

Aussie breaks 0.9550 as selling resumes in Asia

EUR/USD technical picture looks set for further advances ahead of NFP