AFX: USD mixed against Europe, falls sharply against JPY
Equity markets fall and the USD and JPY trade higher supported by the return of risk aversion
World Bank forecasts global growth to contract by 1.2% in 2009,China’s industrial production slowed at a record pace, these reports revive fear about the global economy and pressured equity markets
Japan's Q4 GDP falls 3.2%, CAPEX spending falls 5.4%, JPY higher supported by fiscal year end repatriation flows and fresh safe haven flows sparked by fear of deepening global recession
Australian February unemployment rises to 5.2%, jobs created rises 1800, AUD lower
RNBZ cut interest rates 0.50 bps to 3% and downgraded growth and inflation forecast, future rate moves to be less aggressive GDP to contract to 2.2% in 2009 and rise to 3.2% in 2010, and inflation is expected to drop to 1.2% by end of 2009,NDZ higher
EU January producer price index falls 0.5% y/y, German factory output falls 7.5% to a new record low, Pan European Union group expects 4.5 million EU jobs to be lost in 2009, EUR steady
CHF mixed awaiting SNB rate decision, 0.25 rate cut expected
GBP trades lower and weakened in cross trade to the EUR and JPY pressured by Bank of England quantitative ease and weaker global equity markets
Wall Street Journal reports that economists see US economy bottoming in October
US home foreclosure rate rises to 74 K in February
US equity market set to open lower, European equities close down 2%, Nikkei closed down 177 points