Pound Sterling
GBP/EUR – Trading in the Region of 1.1805
While the Pound edged away from the three-week low recorded against the Euro yesterday ahead of the Bank of England policy meeting, the British currency softened further against the US Dollar as the prospect of an end to the federal shutdown lifted the ‘Greenback’.

US Dollar
USD/EUR – Trading in the Region of 0.7406
Overnight the US Dollar rallied, advancing on peers like the Euro and Pound, as local lawmakers came a step closer to reaching a compromise which would end the federal shutdown. If US lawmakers are able to reach an agreement the nation could sidestep a potentially cataclysmic default.

Euro
EUR/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.3499
While the Euro jumped to a three-week high against the Pound as German industrial production surged, the common currency softened against the US Dollar. While today’s minutes from the European Central Bank’s latest policy meeting will be of interest, economists will also be looking ahead to tomorrow’s German inflation data.

Australian Dollar
AUD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.9413
During Australasian trading the ‘Aussie’ weakened against the US Dollar, and several of its other main peers, as the domestic economy added fewer jobs than expected last month. While Australia’s unemployment rate dropped, any positive impact was offset as the nation’s participation rate also slid to an almost seven-year low.

New Zealand Dollar
NZD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8241
The ‘Kiwi’ ended the local session weaker than it began as a declining performance of manufacturing index for New Zealand and political developments in the US pushed the higher-risk asset lower against its main rivals.

Canadian Dollar
CAD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.9609
The prospect of the political stalemate in the US coming to an end may be beneficial for Canada’s trade outlook, but the nation’s currency continued to weaken against its US counterpart during the North American session. Today’s Canadian new housing price index could lend the ‘Loonie’ support if it shows the expected improvement.

Japanese Yen
USD/JPY – Trading in the Region of 97.6600
The Yen weakened against the ‘Greenback’, extending its longest run of losses for a month, as the likelihood of a US default lessened and the safe-haven Dollar climbed.

South African Rand
USD/ZAR – Trading in the Region of 9.9815
As local trading began the Rand was slightly softer against its broadly strengthening US rival. Today’s mining/manufacturing production figures for South Africa are likely to trigger Rand movement in the hours ahead.