EUR,
AUD, GBP, CAD and NZD all traded a little stronger against the USD
during the session. News flow was very light, as was data. On
Wednesday New Zealand announced a boost to the minimum wage which
should help household consumption but also increases the prospect of
further Reserve Bank of New Zealand rate hikes given inflation in NZ
is still high.

USD/JPY
popped in early Asia but has since come back to be barely changed on
the session.

BTC/USD
has lost ground (see bullet above for rumour).

Asian
equity markets:

  • Japan’s
    Nikkei 225 -0.36%

  • China’s
    Shanghai Composite +0.6%

  • Hong
    Kong’s Hang Seng +0.3%

  • South
    Korea’s KOSPI -0.17%

  • Australia’s
    S&P/ASX 200 -0.6%