The average daily volume in October compares with a revised
$856 billion in April and $809 billion in October 2010, the
Federal Reserve’s Foreign Exchange Committee said in a statement
today, citing results from its semi-annual survey. The October
2011 increase was due mainly to a 28 percent rise in spot
turnover from the April period.

Turnover in the euro versus the dollar represented 37
percent, or the largest share, of reported trading. Dollar-yen
trading was the second busiest at 10 percent.

Volatility escalated last year as Europe’s debt crisis
roiled markets and fueled concern global economic growth would
slow. Implied volatility of Group of Seven currencies reached a
16-month high of 15.77 percent in September, according to the
JPMorgan G7 Volatility Index, which has averaged 12.03 percent
during the past five years.

“There was a greater willingness to back certain movements
amongst well-capitalized banks,” Andrew Wilkinson , chief
economic strategist at Miller Tabak Co. in New York, said in a
telephone interview, in reference to North American banks. “The
outlook became cloudier, which means it became more difficult to
substantiate positions, so it’s possible risk takers in general
took a step back.”

Canada Slows

The North American trading gains came even as total
turnover in Canada declined 14.4 percent, according to a survey
by the Canadian Foreign Exchange Committee, the first decline in
turnover since April 2009. Average daily turnover of foreign-
exchange derivatives fell 15.4 percent to $3.3 billion.

Currency-market trading in the U.K. dropped 3 percent to
$1.97 trillion a day in October compared with April, the Foreign
Exchange Joint Standing Committee said in a statement on the
Bank of England’s website today. The fall was led by a 9 percent
drop in foreign exchange swaps activity. Spot turnover rose 2
percent to a record high, the committee said.

In Australia, average daily turnover decreased 23 percent
to $167.9 billion in October from April and fell 14 percent from
the previous year, the Australian Foreign Exchange Committee
said on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s website today.

Trading dropped 1.1 percent in Singapore during the six-
month period, according to the Singapore Foreign Exchange Market
Committee. Average daily turnover in over-the-counter foreign-
exchange derivatives fell 2.1 percent to $46 billion.

The U.S. Foreign Exchange Committee obtained data for the
month of October from 25 financial institutions active in the
North American foreign exchange market. It worked in
collaboration with the committees from the U.K., Singapore,
Australia and Canada.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Catarina Saraiva in New York at
asaraiva5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Dave Liedtka at dliedtka@bloomberg.net

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Forex: AUS/USD down after sales data

FITITOL–>

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) – Retail sales data in Australia have posted an unexpected and disappointing contraction of 0.1% in December vs. an estimated increase of 0.2% and coming from flat growth in November.
The cross has been falling since the opening session in Asia also weighted by the negative market sentiment surrounding Greece.
The RBA will hold its monetary policy meeting tomorrow. Market consensus expects a 25bps cut in the overnight interest rate, which could cap further upside in the AUD, also helped by the renewed concerns regarding the euro zone and some poor domestic data.

At the moment the cross is down 0.36% at 1.0712, facing support levels at 1.0672 (low Feb.3) followed by 1.0569 (low Feb.1) then 1.0528 (low Jan.30) and 1.0428 (low Jan.24).
On the upside, a breakout of 1.0794 (high Feb.3) would bring 1.0831 (Upper Bollinger) then 1.0909 (prev daily sup now res) and 1.1008 (high Aug.2).

LONDON, February 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Vantage FX UK is helping traders to tell their adjustable pegs from their leading indicators with a comprehensive Forex trading glossary hosted on its website,
http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/ .

In the glossary traders can find all the terminology they can expect to encounter in the Forex market and on the trading platform. Traders can use the index both as a source for looking up terms they have come across, or to bolster their market vocabulary and Forex knowledge before their next trade.

As well as the glossary, Vantage FX UK provides traders with a comprehensive education service including a 30-day MetaTrader 4 demo account, an exclusive Expert Advisor Test Lab and daily currency market insights.

Traders can bookmark the Vantage FX UK Forex glossary for ready-reference at:

http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/education/forex-terms/

Trading derivatives and Forex carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Forex trading may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.

About Vantage FX UK

Vantage FX UK is an internationally recognised FX trading broker based in the City of London, providing foreign exchange trading services to clients in the UK, the EU and the rest of the world.

What sets Vantage FX apart is its wide range of services and outstanding level of customer support. The company strives to provide an intuitive, interactive Forex experience by continually innovating and taking advantage of the latest trading technology, such as MetaTrader 4 and Expert Advisors.

Vantage FX also offers extensive educational resources to help give traders their edge, keep up with daily market commentary and try a FX trading demo account. For further information, visit

http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/

SOURCE Vantage FX UK

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Stocks opened lower on Monday after a five-week rally on concerns Greece will be unable to avoid a chaotic default …

LONDON, February 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Vantage FX UK is helping traders to tell their adjustable pegs from their leading indicators with a comprehensive Forex trading glossary hosted on its website,
http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/ .

In the glossary traders can find all the terminology they can expect to encounter in the Forex market and on the trading platform. Traders can use the index both as a source for looking up terms they have come across, or to bolster their market vocabulary and Forex knowledge before their next trade.

As well as the glossary, Vantage FX UK provides traders with a comprehensive education service including a 30-day MetaTrader 4 demo account, an exclusive Expert Advisor Test Lab and daily currency market insights.

Traders can bookmark the Vantage FX UK Forex glossary for ready-reference at:

http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/education/forex-terms/

Trading derivatives and Forex carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Forex trading may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.

About Vantage FX UK

Vantage FX UK is an internationally recognised FX trading broker based in the City of London, providing foreign exchange trading services to clients in the UK, the EU and the rest of the world.

What sets Vantage FX apart is its wide range of services and outstanding level of customer support. The company strives to provide an intuitive, interactive Forex experience by continually innovating and taking advantage of the latest trading technology, such as MetaTrader 4 and Expert Advisors.

Vantage FX also offers extensive educational resources to help give traders their edge, keep up with daily market commentary and try a FX trading demo account. For further information, visit

http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/

SOURCE Vantage FX UK

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

MUMBAI — India’s central bank has asked banks to approach it individually for relaxing some foreign currency trading limits and has already eased restrictions for some banks, a top official said Monday.

“Some limits, based on their (banks’) merchant positions, have been relaxed,” Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor H.R. Khan told reporters after a speech in Mumbai.

He said the banks have been asked to route their requests through the Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India, an industry body.

The RBI had …

BANGKOK, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Thai stocks are expected to
rise on Monday following a U.S. market rally and gains elsewhere
in Asia, with strong global oil prices leading to selective
buying in energy firms, brokers said.
    Asian shares rose on Monday as surprisingly robust U.S. jobs
data last week bolstered investor risk appetite, overshadowing
worries about a lack of progress in Greek debt restructuring
talks that are vital to containing the euro zone debt crisis.   

    MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
 rose 0.32 percent at 0222 GMT.
    On Friday, Thai benchmark SET index was up 0.7
percent at 1,098.95, amid selective buying in growth stocks such
as food firm Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl.
    Foreign investors bought shares worth 2.9 billion baht
($93.99 million) on Friday, stock exchange data showed.
    Broker Krungsri Securities said energy-related stocks were
among its top picks on Monday, including coal miner Banpu Pcl
 and petrochemical firm Indorama Ventures Pcl.
    Parin Kitchatornpitak, senior analyst at broker KTB
Securities, expected the SET index to pass the 1,100 level on
the back of strong external market sentiment.
    "The Thai market could extend its gains as external factors
and foreign inflows are supportive," he said.
    Click for cumulative trading value by
investor type.
 ----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 0204 GMT ------------
                     INSTRUMENT   LAST       PCT CHG   NET CHG
 SP 500                          1344.9       1.46%    19.360
 USD/JPY                          76.54       -0.09%    -0.070
 10-YR US TSY YLD                 1.9206          --    -0.003
 SPOT GOLD                        1734.05      0.48%     8.250
 US CRUDE                         97.33       -0.52%    -0.510
 DOW JONES                        12862.23     1.23%    156.82
 ASIA ADRS                        128.73       1.19%      1.51
 -------------------------------------------------------------                      

    MARKET SUMMARY
 Nasdaq vaults to 11-year high on surge in US jobs
 US bonds sell off as jobs report cuts bets on stimulus
 Euro softens as Greek deadline looms
 Gold continues to extend losses, down 2 percent
 Oil up sharply on US jobs surge, Iran                      	

    STOCKS AND FACTORS TO WATCH:	

    - STPI Pcl
    The company told the exchange it had signed a $739 million
contract to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) onshore facility
by module assembling in Thailand and exporting it for
installation in Australia.	

- For the Thai press digest click on:
- For Thailand's stock exchange news click on:
- For Thailand corporate earnings:
- For Thailand economic forecast:                         	

     ASIA-PACIFIC STOCK MARKETS:
  Pan-Asia......             Japan.......       S.Korea...
  S.E. Asia.....             Hong Kong...       Taiwan....
  Australia/NZ..             India.......       China.....
     * OTHER MARKETS:
  Wall Street ..            Gold .......       Currency..
  Eurostocks...              Oil ........      JP bonds...
  ADR Report ...            LME metals.        US bonds..
  Stocks News US               Stocks News Europe
     * DIARIES  DATA:
  IPO diary  data              Asia earnings diary
  U.S. earnings diary           European diary
  Thailand diary                Wall Street Week Ahead
  Eurostocks Week Ahead
     * TOP NEWS:
     For top Asian company news, double click on:
  U.S. company news             European company news
  Forex news                    Global Economy news
  Technology news               Telecoms news
  Media news                    Banking news
  Politics/General news         Asia Macro data
  A multimedia version of Reuters Top News is available at:
  topnews.session.rservices.com
     * LIVE PRICES  DATA:
  World Stocks                    Currency rates
  Dow Jones/NASDAQ                  Nikkei
  FTSE 100                          Debt
  Thai baht                         LME price overview
 ($1 = 30.855 baht)	

 (Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap and Wilawan Pongpitak)

© Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved

Forex: AUD/USD lower on disappointing data

FITITOL–>

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) – AUD/USD has been slowly in the decline since Tokyo open at 00:00 GMT when the index opened with a gap +1.31% higher. Aussie was coming from almost session highs at 1.0756 ahead of the data. Both retail sales and jobs ads were disappointing with retail sales falling -0.1% when they were expected to come in the positive +0.2%, while newspaper job ads fell -2.6% and internet job ads rose +6.4, opposite to previous ones when internet ads fell and newspaper ones rose.

At last, the pair is on the rebound after reaching lows at 1.0722 after the release, now at 1.0743, while local share markets keep trading strong to the upside with ASX up +1.18% and Nikkei in same percentages.

NEW YORK—Thomson Reuters Corp. handled more foreign-exchange spot-market trading than its main rival EBS for a third straight month in January, as dwindling trading in the Swiss franc and the yen weighed on EBS volume figures.

EBS, a unit of broker ICAP PLC, controls more volume than Thomson Reuters in the Swiss and Japanese currencies, where trading has slowed sharply since central-bank interventions in September and October. Meanwhile, Thomson Reuters is stronger in commodity-driven currencies like the Australian and Canadian dollars, in which trading has picked up in recent months.

Still, average daily volumes fell in January from …