Bell FX Currency Outlook. Australian Dollar opens marginally higher ahead of key Chinese data.

Australia: The Australian Dollar has opened slightly higher this morning following a quiet night in overnight trade. The local unit traded toward 1.0400 against the US Dollar to open back at 1.0370 this morning.

Markets traded sideways overnight in slightly sluggish trade as traders await New York to get back online. Trading resumed on Wednesday in New York after Hurricane Sandy effected a two day shutdown of markets.

Domestically, Australian building approvals and private sector credit were released better than expected in yesterday's trade; suggesting that perhaps the RBA's easing and the new NSW Home Buyers scheme are taking effect.

The focal point for markets today will be the release of Chinese Manufacturing PMI at 12:00pm and the HSBC Manufacturing PMI
at 12:45pm. Expectations are for numbers to show an expansion and be released above 50; anything above may just be the boost the Australian dollar needs to break the 1.0400 level against the US dollar.

Majors: New York trade ended mostly flat in a session of light volumes. European trade was initially stronger after good company reports, but ended broadly lower after lacklustre data out of Europe and the US.

Weaker US manufacturing data and Q3 earnings results had little effect on markets with market focus turning to US non-farm payrolls data and unemployment data tonight; a key figure ahead of the much anticipated Presidential election next week.

The S&P rose 0.1% to 1,413 whilst the DJIA remained unchanged at 13,110. European equities ended the session lower with the German DAX declining 0.3% to 7,261 and the FTSE ending 1.1% lower at 5,783.

Oil prices were mixed with modest moves. WTI futures rose 0.3% to USD86.20 per barrel while Brent fell 0.5% to USD 108.5 per barrel. Metals and commodities were also mixed.

The Swiss national bank released reserves data for September showing that reserves had risen. This was met with some surprise as the EUR/CHF was above the CHF1.20 floor for most of the month. The Swiss National bank remains the biggest accumulator of reserves in financial markets at the moment.
Economic Calendar
1 NOV AU Oct Riskmark home price index
AU export/import price index
CH- Oct HSBC Manufacturing PMI
UK Oct hous prices %yr
US Oct ISM manufacturing
US Initial jobless claims w/e 27/10
US Sep construction spending
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