Session Recap: The USD remains firm, Yen under-performs

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - The Asian trading was characterized by slow consolidative moves following early pressure interbank on risky currencies, especially the Euro, which opened down over 30 pips.

Disagreement among EU FinMin continues over how to share the cost of possible future bank collapses in the EU, more talk by ECB's Weidman over OMT to be limited also weighed in the Euro, while the BIS annual reporting warning that central banks should start heading for the exits on artificial easing strategies, also affected sentiment towards risky assets.

The AUD/USD remains within an intraday range comprised by 0.9160-0.9250, while the USD/JPY was the little star of the session after breaking the 98.50 barrier. Equities were again hit by the pricing of withdrawals in QE by the Fed, with Shanghai -3.01, Nikkei 225 -0.44% and Hang Seng -1.58%.

Main headlines in Asia

- PBoC intentionally attacked shadow financing, Xinhua says

- Abe + coalition partner win majority in Tokyo local election

- Still no deal on EU-wide bail-in regime

- BIS to QE practices: 'enough is enough'

- ECB’s Jens Weidmann warns don’t count on low rates forever

- Goldman Sachs has cut China 2013 GDP growth estimate to 7.4% (from 7.8%)

- AUD/USD - 0.9250 selling, Aus PM take rate to 0.92

- Australian bonds sold heavily again today