ForexLive Americas wrap: Shoppers shop and producers produce

US Feb retail sales +1.0% from +0.5% exp m/m US Feb import prices +1.10% from 0.5% exp. Export +0.8% from 0.3% exp US ceo's see improving economy. Growth to 2.1% from Q4 2012 forecast of 2.0% US Jan business inventories rise to 1.0% from +0.5% exp m/m US Jan business sales -0.3% from 0.1% in Dec. Inventory/sales ratio up to 1.29 from 1.28 JPM & Goldmans revise GDP forecasts up on the back of figures Two thirds of Italians oppose new polls DXY rises to 7 month high US CFTC looking into London gold & silver price manipulation US Feb treasury budget posts deficit of $204bn from $2.9bn surplus in Jan Euro group head Dijsselbloem wants Cyprus bailout below E17bn Ireland sells E5bn bonds at 4.15%. 50 bps lower than Italy & Spain US mortgage refi program helps homeowners Fitch: FASB impairment rule could hit US bank reserves RBNZ leaves rates unchanged but statement talks the NZD down The session opened with strong retail sales figures, followed with decent inventory numbers and gave currencies a well needed shot in the arm. USD/JPY took the baton and shot 50 odd pips from 95.75 to 96.27. The pair then spent the day retracing back down below 96 before stabilising around the big figure. EUR/USD got a bloody nose on the figures sinking from 1.3013 to a low of 1.2922. The bounce was moderate and regained the 1.2950 level. It's this level we hug into the close. The big action on the close was in the NZD pairs. RBNZ left rates unchanged and indicated they will stay level throughout 2013. RBNZ governor Graeme Wheeler did his best to talk down the NZ dollar. NZD/USD fell over 100 pips from 0.8270 to 0.8162 taking out the big figure and the 200 dma. AUD/NZD posted 150+ gains and there was much of the same in the other crosses. AUD/USD is, of course, at 1.0300 I'll now leave you in the very capable hands of Eamonn and I'd like to thank you for your time and comments. As always, it's been a pleasure.