Another busy day once again, with markets turning their attention locally where Australia will be releasing employment-related figures.

USD-paired currencies struggled overnight as the dollar strengthened on the back of US-Saudi Arabia tensions. The EUR/USD opened at $1.15719 and rose to an early high of $1.15796. From there, the pair declined slowly throughout early and mid-session trading before suffering a sharp fall late in the day. The euro sunk to a low of $1.14950 late in the session and is currently trading at $1.14982. The GBP/USD tried to buck the trend but also fell victim to a stronger dollar. After opening at $1.31822 and bumped up to a high of $1.31918 early. After trudging along for several hours, the pound tumbled to lows of $1.30980 before trying to mount a spirited rally. It climbed back up to $1.31479 before succumbing again, falling to a near session low, where it is now trading at $1.31042.

The Dow opened and closed rather flat but there were some movements in between. The index opened at 25,754.23 and remained flat for several hours before climbing to a high of 25,860.14 mid-session. It quickly gave up those highs, sliding over the next few hours to a low of 25,472.59. Just like the highs, the lows were not held for long as the Dow rallied late, ending the session at 25,758.59. It has opened lower today and is trading at 25,701.10. The Dax took a breather after its strong rally the day before. The German index opened at 11,803.66 and climbed to an early high of 11,844.70. From that high, the Dax declined over the next several hours until it bottomed-out at 11,664.60. It bounced off those lows and climbed to 11,781.22 before falling again into the close, closing at 11,732.10.

The day ahead sees the scheduled publication of several pieces of economic data, with focus centred around Australia. Australia will be publishing Employment Change and Unemployment Rate figures. The country is expected to add 15,200 jobs for the month, down from 44,000 the previous month. The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 5.3%. Other data set for release today includes:

UK – Retail Sales

NZ – Visitor Arrivals

Australia – NAB Quarterly Business Confidence

Japan – Trade Balance, BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks

Canada – ADP Non-Farm Employment Change

Europe – EU Economic Summit, Swiss Trade Balance, German WPI

US – Philly Fed Manufacturing Index, Unemployment Claims, CB Leading Index, Natural Gas Storage, FOMC Member Randal Quarles speaks

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