Federal Reserve Boston President Rosengren speaks at 0000GMT

That's the time I have, but on closer inspection it looks more likely he kicks off at 0030GMT

Perhaps the text is released at 0000. We'll soon find out.

  • Its billed as a speech on monetary policy: "Prospects for Returning to More Conventional Monetary Policy"

Also on the docket here in Asia today:

2330GMT - Australia - Westpac leading index for January, prior was -0.3%. This indicator is looking a little ill for the Australian economy in the next 6 months or so. And it strikes me that my bullish preference on the AUD is getting stressed the longer it sits around current levels just going more or less sideways. Plenty of interest for the AUD coming up.

2350GMT - Japan - Machine Orders for December. Capex is a concern for Japanese authorities ... i.e., not enough of it. These will be watched today

  • for the m/m, expected is 4.4% and prior was -14.4%
  • for the y/y, expected is -2.8%, prior +1.2%

(Note - later today, at 0600GMT, we'll get the similarly titled but different data set fro Japan - Machine Tool Orders (final for January))

We'll also have the usual foci out of China around 0115GMT - Open Market Operations and the yuan fix, with Chinese stockmarkets opening at 0130GMT.