Retail sales from Japan

Japanese retail sales fell a greater-thanexpected 0.2 percent in February from a year earlier, although economists said the data contained signs that consumption was recovering.

The drop compared with a market median forecast of a 0.1 %fall

USDJPY traded between 116.67 and 117.16.

Oil below USD 64.00

U.S. crude oil futures dipped below USD 64 on Thursday, easing from a six-month high struck in the previous session on increasing political tensions surrounding Iran, the world's fourthlargest oil producer.

New Zealand current account

New Zealand's current account deficit narrowed by more than expected in the fourth quarter, data showed on Thursday, backing views the giant shortfall may finally be levelling out.

The unadjusted deficit eased to NZD 3.93 billion (USD 2.79 billion) in the December quarter, compared with NZD 4.67 billion in the previous quarter and below the NZD 4.1 billion shortfall forecast by economists.

NZDUSD traded between 0.7094 and 0.7120