Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar followed US equities higher overnight after better than expected company earnings and US housing data pushed markets higher.

Australia: The Australian Dollar traded to 1.0395 against the greenback to open at 1.0360 this morning. It was a mixed session overnight in FX markets with the US Dollar being generally weaker, benefitting the AUD, NZD and even the beleaguered EUR.

The Bank of Japan is expected to announce a five trillion yen stimulus package as its two day policy meeting comes to a close today. If more money is injected into the economy, this could be a positive for risk appetite and potentially the AUD.

With little domestic economic data due today, current resistance for the AUD/USD is 1.0390 with a break below 1.0350 opening up 1.0300 and 1.0250 on the downside.

Today in Australia, the second tier HIA New Home Sales report is due. China has Industrial Profits and MNI Business Conditions. Locally,
we also have full year results for Macquarie Group released and Atlas Iron March quarter production update.

Majors: US stocks rose for a third day as US pending home sales rose to a near two year high in March helping the market to shrug off a stumbling labour market recovery. Initial jobless claims widened to 388k from an expected 374k, a slight contraction from last week's 389k.

Positive earnings results for Amazon and Citrix overshadowed an earnings miss for high profile companies Exxon and UPS. The S&P 500 rose off the back of the positive housing data ending up 0.7% at 1,400 with the Dow Jones also rosing 0.9% to close at 13,205.

Oil markets also took a positive lead from the housing data with WTI futures closing 1% higher at USD 104.3 per barrel and Brent rising 4% to close at USD 119.6 per barrel.

European equities were mixed overnight with both the FTSE 100 and German DAX closing 0.5% higher at 5,749 and 6,740 as Spain's credit rating was downgraded to BBB+ from A by Standard and Poor.

Falls in manufacturing and services saw Eurozone economic sentiment drop to 92.8 in April reflecting the impact further government austerity is having on the region. Europe has an Italian bond auction and GDP for the US is due for Q1 with the markets expecting a 2.5% annualised increase.

Economic Calendar
27 APR US GDP Q1
CH MNI Business Condition Survey APR
AU HIA New Home Sales MAR
US University of Michigan Confidence APR