Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly higher this morning, currently trading just below USD1.0500 despite some mixed data released during the offshore session overnight.

Australia: Equity markets across the board were slightly lower after some soft CPI and manufacturing data was released in the US, as well as some concerning reports that Greece are looking for an extension of its austerity program.

The small boost for the AUD as well as the NZD came with the soft data out of the US, which has increased the expectations of the Fed announcing QE3 should future data continue to disappoint.

Despite the positive industrial production data for the region, CPI posted flat compared to market expectations of +0.2%, and the New York Empire Manufacturing survey for August posted a decrease of 5.85. This manufacturing result was markedly different to the market expectations of +7, and when you delve deeper into the release, showed that new orders are easing; not a positive sign for future growth.

Today we expect the AUD to trade in a fairly tight trading range, with a small amount of second tier data due for release. The Average Weekly Earnings data is released this morning and the RBA's Guy Debelle is taking part in a panel discussion at a conference in Sydney later today. We don't expect either of these to be market moving, and will see markets look towards some offshore US housing data released tonight.

Majors: Last night the Bank of England minutes showed that it was a unanimous decision to continue to keep rates on hold at 0.5% and also maintaining the current levels of their asset purchase program. An increase to the program was discussed, but all the members felt that the present levels were sufficient.

An unexpected drop in the UK's second quarter unemployment rate also boosted the region and saw the GBP
increase against the USD, trading up to USD1.5683. The unemployment rate fell to 8% from 8.1%. Tonight in Europe sees the release of the Eurozone

CPI data, with markets expecting a small increase to 1.7% from last month's 1.6%; therefore leaving the European Central Bank room for more easing if it is required. Markets in the region are unable to make any significant moves as investors await details from the ECB President Draghi on his plan to shore up the Euro-zone economy.
Economic Calendar
16 AUGUST AUS Consumer Inflation Expectations
AUS RBA Debelle Speaks
US Initial Jobless Claims
US Housing Starts

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