• Dow Jones Industrial average closed on Wednesday down by 89.23 points at 12,484-62

• Australian employment data was mixed. The number of jobs added was weaker than expected and the unemployment rate was lower at 4.5%. Overall strong data suggesting a rate hike in May  

• FX rates as of 12.00am EST:- GBP/USD 1.9756/+61  EUR/USD 1.3461/64  USD/JPY 119.38/41  USD/CHF 1.2206/10  USD/CAD 1.1406/11  AUD/USD 0.8250/54  NZD/USD 0.7267/71

• Japan??™s Nikkei 225 closed Thursdays session lower by 129.65 at 17,548-42 (2.00am EST)
• Swedish CPI IN March was +0.7% m/m +1.9% y/y (3.30am EST)

• Italian Industrial Production in February fell by 0.5% m/m(4.00am EST)

• UK Trade data for February shows the global trade deficit widening from -?‚¤6.402 billion in January to -?‚¤6.791 billion. On the news cable dipped 20 pips to 1.9745 before recovering back to 1.9760 (4.30am EST)

• A European Corporate name selling Euro-dollar as the currency falls from 1.3462 to 1.3447 (4.50am EST)

• Euro-land Q4 GDP  was +0.9% q/q 3.3% y/y (5.00am EST)

• Japans Fujii from the Ministry of Finance on the wires saying that he expects the G7 will discuss the world economic reform of international financial institutions at their meeting this weekend.

• FX rates as at 7.00am EST:- GBP/USD 1.9763/68  EUR/USD 1.3454/57  USD/JPY 119.37/40  USD/CHF 1.2192/96  USD/CAD 1.1375/80  AUD/USD 0.8260/64  NZD/USD 0.7273/77.

Economic data due out later today

8.30am   US Import and Export Price Index for March

8.30am   US weekly jobless claims for the week ending April 7th

Session Ranges

GBP / USD:                 1-9737             1-9790

EUR / USD:                 1-3440             1-3475

USD / JPY:                  119-22             119-48

USD / CHF:                 1-2185             1-2210

USD / CAD                 1.1368             1.1410

AUD / USD                 0-8240             0-8264

NZD / USD                 0-7255             0-7282