On Thursday the yen gained in Asia as the the trade balance slid
into positive territory and market players looked ahead to the Bank of Japan's latest policy views.
USD/JPY was last seen at 123.29, down 0.28%, while AUD/USD traded at 0.7160, up 0.7%.
In Japan, official data showed that the trade balance widened to a surplus of ¥112 billion in October, the first positive result in seven months. Imports dropped 13.4% year-on-year, while exports dipped 2.1%.
In a separate report, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that Japan’s All Industries Activity Index fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.2%, from -0.1% in the preceding month whose figure was revised up from -0.2%. Economists had expected Japan’s All Industries Activity Index to climb 0.2% last month.
The Bank of Japan will post its latest monetary policy views at 03:30 GMT followed by a 06:30 GMT press conference by Governor Haruhiko Kuroda. The regulator is expected to hold policy unchanged on asset buying, but may point to risks to meeting its 2% sustained inflation goal.
NZD/USD was last seen at 0.6528, up 0.87%.
In New Zealand, official data showed earlier that produce price inflation output in New Zealand increased more-than-expected last month.
Statistics New Zealand said that New Zealand PPI Output rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.3%, from -0.2% in the preceding month. Economists had expected New Zealand PPI Output to rise 0.2% last month.
The body also reported that N.Z. producer price inflation input rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.6%, from -0.3% in the preceding quarter. N.Z. PPI input was expected to rise 0.1% in the last quarter.
