Weak US data dampened sentiment keeping the dollar heavy against the yen. US Consumer confidence in February fell to 78.1 versus 80 forecast and 79.4 previous. Meanwhile there were comments from the Fed policy maker Tarullo who said that monetary is possible tool to deal with broad sustained systemic risk and that it is possible that interest rates will remain historically low for some time after Fed starts to raise them.
USDJPY opened the Asian session at 102.24 after trading with a heavy tone through the US session due to weak US consumer confidence and a drop in the 10-yr Treasury yield to 2.70%. The pair eased to 102.13 in early Asia.
The Australian dollar was in focus today as there was domestic data on the construction sector. Fourth-quarter total construction fell 1.0% on the quarter while engineering construction was down 0.5%. Also weighing on the aussie lately was the weaker Chinese yuan.
AUDUSD opened the Asian session at $0.9018 and traded a moderate 0.8969-0.9021 range.
EURUSD barely moved yet again in Asia and could only manage a $1.3739/1.3748 range for the entire morning session.
GBPUSD traded a 1.6669-85 range in Asia. Yesterday the pound rose above $1.6720 after comments by the BOE's McCafferty that the UK could raise interest rates in Q2 2015.
Revised GDP for the UK will be released in the European session today and US new home sales in the US session.