[EURO DOLLAR TAKES RARE LEAD IN ASIA AS STOPS TRIPPED]Euro-dollar
took a rare turn in the driving seat during Asian trade, movinghigher
after stops were tripped at $0.8950/60. Traders said the mainbuyers
were US investment banks and noted some look for a break of$0.90 as the
euro achieves a firm tone despite recent strength in US equities.
Meanwhile, dollar-yen held in a range as Japanese tradersreturned to
the "Golden Week" holidays and with good orders seen either sideof a
Y121.30/60 range.
* [JAPANESE MARKETS CLOSED FOR GOLDEN WEEK HOLIDAYS]Japanese traders
returned to the Golden Week holidays today and will return to workon
Monday.
* [AUSTRALIAN PM DISMISSES CALLS FOR STONERESIGNATION] PM Howard
has reportedly dismissed calls for the resignation of Liberal Party
President Shane Stone. He has also noted his full support forTreasurer
Costello following the row over the leaked memo from earlier thisweek.
The private memo from Stone to Costello had attacked thegovernment for
being out of touch as well as mean and tricky following heavylosses for
the party in the Queensland election. The memo also directlyattacked
Costello.
FROM THE U.S. ON WEDNESDAY
* [PENTAGON CORRECTS ITSELF,DOES NOT CUT MILITARYTIES WITH CHINA]
The Pentagon corrected itself late Wednesday, and instead ofsuspending
military contacts with China, put them under review as a sign of
annoyance at Beijing's failure to return the U.S. spyplane downedMarch
31. Earlier the Pentagon had said such contacts were suspendedfor the
third time since 1989 but then said an aide has misinterpreted the
Defense Secretaries intention.
По оценкам ФРС наблюдается медленный рост экономики,однако ухудшения состояния уже не происходит. В некоторыхсекторах экономики наблюдается умеренное улучшениеситуации. По прежнему слаб промышленный сектор, однакоесть признаки роста потребительского спроса и роста секторанедвижимости. Следующее заседание ФРС пройдет 15 мая, иесли ожидать понижения ставок, то на основании такого отчетаможно говорить только о 0,25%-м понижении ставок.