Session Recap: USD lower; BoJ on hold

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - USD has eased today in last trading day of the week in Asia-Pacific ahead of US prelim GDP, taking EUR/USD as high as 1.3050, AUD/USD to 1.0330, GBP/USD to 1.5470, while USD/JPY to as low as 98.55. Tokyo markets will be closed next Monday for holiday.

Gold climbed to fresh session highs at $1486 but eased later on till current $1474, while Oil trades slightly lower for the session below the $93 mark. Local share markets show mixed results with Hong-Kong leading the gains up +0.74%, while Korean Kospi is down -0.22%.

BoJ finally publish its monetary policy statement leaving rates unchanged and expressing their willing to expand the monetary base to around 60-70 trillion yen per year, while inflation target for year end has not yet been disclosed. Japan CPI year on year came in at -0.5% below expectations at -0.4%.

Main headlines in the Asian session:

OMT in limbo? confidential Buba document made public

New Zealand trade surplus beats expectations

Commodities Brief: Counter trend rally in precious metals or new trend being established?

Forex: NZD/USD jumps above 0.85 on NZ trade balance

Forex: AUD/NZD downtrend continues as pair finishes lower for 5th straight day

Japan CPIs still depressed, is a 2% target really achievable?

Forex: US Dollar Index still range bound, GDP on tap

Japan PM Abe to compile a ‘growth strategy’ before the G8 summit in June

PBOC sets yuan mid-point reference rate at 6.2208, a record high for yuan against USD

Forex: US Dollar leaking lower during Asia trade

Forex: AUD/USD higher on weaker USD and stronger commodities

Forex: USD/JPY selling off ahead of BoJ

Goldman Sachs expects RBA to cut 25 basis points in May

BoJ committed to double monetary base in 2 years

Forex: USD/JPY dives lower after Bank of Japan monetary policy release