Investing.com - The Australian dollar fell in early Asian trade on Monday as a private think tank survey showed continued contraction in manufacturing and the yen strengthened against the dollar ahead of a light data day in Japan.
AUD/USD fell to 0.8904, down 0.26% and USD/JPY was at 101.51, down 0.28%. The New Zealand dollar, NZD/USD, was also weaker at 0.8358, down 0.30%, as terms of trade data came in better than expected.
In New Zealand, the terms of trade index for the fourth quarter rose 2.3%, beating expectations of a 1.9% gain.
In Australia, the AI manufacturing index for February rose 1.9 points to 48.6, staying in contraction for the fourth month in a row.
"Major efforts are now needed both by businesses and governments to lift the pace of innovation, to build business capabilities and to lift workforce skills in manufacturing and in other trade exposed sections of the economy. It is critical that we rebuild and recapitalize the sector and position it to take advantage of new opportunities and to assist in the task of rebalancing the economy which has become over-exposed to the fortunes of the mining sector," AI Group chief executive Innex Willox said.
At 1030 local time (2230 GMT), the TD-MI inflation gauge in Australia for February is due with the previous month up 0.1%. This is followed at 1130 local time (2330 GMT) by the February Australia ANZ job ads survey, previous down 0.3%, and at the same time the Reserve Bank of Australia index of commodity prices for January, previous down 1.5%.
In China, the CFLP China services PMI is due at 0900 local time (0100 GMT), previous 53.4, and the HSBC China manufacturing PMI at 0945 local time (O145 GMT), previous 48.3, with a forecast of 48.5. Both items cover the month of February.
Manufacturing activity in China fell less-than-expected last month, official data showed on Saturday that Chinese Manufacturing PMI fell to an eight-month low of 50.2 in February from 50.5 in the preceding month. Analysts had expected Chinese Manufacturing PMI to fall to 50.1 last month.
In Japan, new car sales for February are due at 1400 local time (0500 GMT).
The U.S. dollar ended the week lower against most of the other main currencies on Friday after data showed that U.S. fourth quarter growth was revised lower, adding to worries that the Federal Reserve may slow the pace of reductions to its stimulus program.
The euro was boosted after data on Friday showed that the annual rate of consumer inflation in the euro zone rose 0.8% in February, above expectations for a reading of 0.7%. The inflation rate is still well below the European Central Bank’s 2% target, but the data eased pressure on the bank to tighten monetary policy at its upcoming policy meeting on Thursday.
Later in the day, the U.K. is to release data on manufacturing activity and net lending to individuals, while Switzerland is to publish its SVME index.
In the euro zone, Spain and Italy are to release data on manufacturing activity. Meanwhile, ECB President Mario Draghi is to speak in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Canada is to produce data on raw material price inflation. The U.S. is to release data on personal spending, while the Institute of Supply Management is to release data on manufacturing activity.