ForexLive Asia Wrap: Japan Upper House Deliberations on BOJ Nominations Take Centre Stage on a Quiet Day

New Zealand February Food Price Index -0.3 % m/m (vs. +1.9% prior). Reminder – RBNZ decision due tomorrow
Sth. Korean unemployment rate jumps to 3.5% from 3.2% expected – talk in the market of the Bank of Korea to cut rates (a decision is due tomorrow), and also news from the government there they are planning an economic stimulus package
Australia March Westpac Consumer Sentiment +2.0% m/m (vs. +7.7% prior) – the index moved to 100.5, the highest since December 2010
Australia January housing finance show a fall of 1.5, against a +0.5% expected
Japan Govt to Upgrade Economic View for 3rd Month
The numbers are indicating Abe's 3 nominations for the BOJ are very close to receiving upper house assent
Japan Y10Tr stop-gap budget is planned

A very quiet session in Asia today indeed. GBP/USD the only mover, jumping 40 points as nervous shorts covered ahead of tonight's US retail sales report.

The figures out in Australia had nearly zero impact on AUD, it sat in a tight range for the day, as did the NZD ahead of tomorrow's RBNZ rate decision.

USD/JPY played second fiddle to the cable, but at least it showed signs of life. Speculation swirled in the markets about the upper house vote on Abe's 3 nominations for the BOJ (the vote is due on Friday). It does seem, though, that Abe will prevail with the numbers. USD/JPY was offered above 96.00 on profit-taking ahead of tonight US retail sales and found support at last night's lows around 95.70.