For the 1000EDT NY/1400GMT cut:

EUR/USD: 1.3000, 1.3080, 1.3100, 1.3150, 1.3250 and 1.3300

USD/JPY: 79.75, 80.00, 80.30

EUR/JPY: 106.00

GBP/USD: 1.6200, 1.6225 and  1.6300

EUR/GBP: 0.8150

AUD/USD: 1.0265, 1.0335, and 1.0400

Small rise and exactly as expected by analysts

Equals the record high of 15 yrs ago for the 17 nations, with the increase seen mostly in Italy and Spain.

–Adds Detail To Version Transmitted At 0848 GMT

London (MNI) – Broad money growth hit a record low in March and
non-residents were net sellers of Gilts, Bank of England data published
Wednesday showed.

The M4 broad money measure fell 0.8% on the month in March to stand
down 5.0% on the year. The 5% decline was the weakest outturn since the
series began in 1964 but much of the weakness was due to a decline in
intra-financial sector transactions and stripping these out broad money
growth was relatively firm.

The Bank of England’s favoured measure of broad money growth, M4
ex-intermediate other financial corporations, which excludes
economically irrelevant intra-financial sector transactions, saw 6.4%
growth on a one quarter/three month annualised basis and 2.7% growth on
a four quarter/12 monthly rate.

The 6.4% growth rate for M4 ex-IOFCs was last higher in Q4 2007.

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has highlighted the weakness
of money growth as one reason for his belief above target inflation
outturns will not prove sustainable. These latest data, however,
highlight the problems of getting a clear picture from the diverse money
measures.

The BOE Bankstats data showed that, while the central bank
continued with bulk purchases of Gilts in March through quantitative
easing, foreign institutions were net sellers.

Non-resident net purchases of Gilts declined by Stg1.73 billion
following a Stg4.659 billion decline in February. Back in January,
non-residents were buyers, purchasing a net Stg9.414 billion.

–Data Show Subdued Housing Market Activity

The BOE data also showed subdued activity in the housing market.
The number of mortgage approvals rose to 49,860 in March from 49,029 in
February and the net change in secured lending was Stg0.966 billion,
just up from Stg0.958 billion in February.

Nevertheless, mortgage approvals were well down on the levels seen
in late 2011 and early 2012, hitting a local peak of 57,954 in January
this year.

Net consumer credit rose Stg419 million in March, up from Stg285
million in February.

The data were stronger than analysts had expected, with mortgage
approvals exceeding the 48,800 median forecast and consumer credit above
the Stg300 million prediction.

Among the raft of data issued by the BOE Wednesday, its effective
interest rates release showed borrowing costs rising for new borrowers.

The effective new secured loan rate rose in March by 14 basis
points on the month to 3.64%. The effective rate on the stock of
outstanding secured loans fell marginally, by 1 basis point to 3.32%.

The rate on unsecured personal loans rose by 13 basis points to
7.49%, although the new unsecured personal loan rate fell by 26 basis
points to 6.88%.

Analysts have raised concerns over effective monetary tightening at
a time when the BOE Monetary Policy has left policy unchanged, and these
figures do show some borrowing costs rising.

–London newsroom: 4420 7862 7491 e-mail: drobinson@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$$BE$,MABDS$]

London (MNI) – Broad money growth hit a record low in March and
non-residents were net sellers of Gilts, Bank of England data published
Wednesday showed.

The M4 broad money measure fell 0.8% on the month in March to stand
down 5.0% on the year. The 5% decline was the weakest outturn since the
series began in 1964 but much of the weakness was due to a decline in
intra-financial sector transactions and stripping these out broad money
growth was relatively firm.

The Bank of England’s favoured measure of broad money growth, M4
ex-intermediate other financial corporations, which excludes
economically irrelevant intra-financial sector transactions, saw 6.4%
growth on a one quarter/three month annualised basis and 2.7% growth on
a four quarter/12 monthly rate.

The 6.4% growth rate for M4 ex-IOFCs was last higher in Q4 2007.

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has highlighted the weakness
of money growth as one reason for his belief above target inflation
outturns will not prove sustainable. These latest data, however,
highlight the problems of getting a clear picture from the diverse money
measures.

The BOE Bankstats data showed that, while the central bank
continued with bulk purchases of Gilts in March through quantitative
easing, foreign institutions were net sellers.

Non-resident net purchases of Gilts declined by Stg1.73 billion
following a Stg4.659 billion decline in February. Back in January,
non-residents were buyers, purchasing a net Stg9.414 billion.

–Data Show Subdued Housing Market Activity

The BOE data also showed subdued activity in the housing market.
The number of mortgage approvals rose to 49,860 in March from 49,029 in
February and the net change in secured lending was Stg0.966 billion,
just up from Stg0.958 billion in February.

Nevertheless, mortgage approvals were well down on the levels seen
in late 2011 and early 2012, hitting a local peak of 57,954 in January
this year.

Net consumer credit rose Stg419 million in March, up from Stg285
million in February.

The data were stronger than analysts had expected, with mortgage
approvals exceeding the 48,800 median forecast and consumer credit above
the Stg300 million prediction.

–London newsroom: 4420 7862 7491 e-mail: drobinson@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$$BE$,MABDS$]

Some talk of more stops through 1.3160. I’m a little surprised by the positioning, but what do I know…..

We’re at 1.3168, BIS having at least slowed, if not turned, the decline.

SA Unemployment: +19k (pan-German), +19k (West), flat (East)

– corrects fourth paragraph to show unadjusted jobless level at 20-year
low, not 20-month low as initially reported
–

FRANKFURT (MNI) – The ranks of the unemployed in Germany
unexpectedly rose in April, while the number of payroll jobs contracted
modestly, the Federal Labour Office reported on Wednesday.

The number of jobseekers rose by 19,000, more than reversing
March’s decline, bringing the total number of unemployed to 2.875
million. Even the most pessimistic analyst polled by MNI had projected
a rise of only 10,000 persons.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged at 6.8% after
March’s figure was revised up 0.1 percentage point.

Without taking into account seasonal trends, the jobless rate fell
0.2 percentage point to 7.0%, reflecting a 20-year low of 2.963 million
persons looking for work in April compared to 3.028 million in March.

Job vacancies fell by 1,000 in April after no change in March.
Payroll jobs, for data for which lag by one month maintained its upward
trend, rising by 29,000 after +43,000 in February.

The April PMI polls show a slight reduction in private sector
employment for the first time since early 2010, as both manufacturers
and service providers adjusted to lower workloads.

As weakening demand from southern Europe offsets robust sales to
Asia and the U.S., further reductions in staff are possible, which could
well create a drag on Germany’s consumption-fueled recovery.

Still, recent surveys suggest the German labour market should
generally continue to develop positively and remain the envy of a number
of Eurozone partners.

Manufacturers and service providers polled by the Ifo institute in
April indicated that they still planned to expand staff, albeit more
cautiously than in March.

While hiring expectations in retail and construction eroded last
month, they remained above average, according to a European Commission
survey,

The Labour Office’s IAB research arm foresees unemployment to
decline to 2.84 million on average this year. With immigration and
increased labour force participation expected to boost the labour force
by 40,000 persons, the institute sees average employment reaching a
post-unification high of 41.55 million.

– Frankfurt bureau: +49 69 720 142, email: frankfurt@marketnews.com –

[TOPICS: M$G$$$,MAGDS$,M$X$$$,M$XDS$,MT$$$$]

London (MNI) – Broad money growth hit a record low in March and
non-residents were net sellers of Gilts, Bank of England data published
Wednesday showed.

The M4 broad money measure fell 0.8% on the month in March to stand
down 5.0% on the year. The 5% decline was the weakest outturn since the
series began in 1964 but much of the weakness was due to a decline in
intra-financial sector transactions and stripping these out broad money
growth was relatively firm.

The Bank of England’s favoured measure of broad money growth, M4
ex-intermediate other financial corporations, which excludes
economically irrelevant intra-financial sector transactions, saw 6.4%
growth on a one quarter/three month annualised basis and 2.7% growth on
a four quarter/12 monthly rate.

The 6.4% growth rate for M4 ex-IOFCs was last higher in Q4 2007.

The BOE Bankstats data showed, while the central bank continued
with bulk purchases of Gilts in March through quantitative easing,
foreign institutions were net sellers.

Non-resident net purchases of Gilts declined by Stg1.73 billion
following a Stg4.659 billion decline in February. Back in January,
non-residents were net buyers, purchasing a net Stg9.414 billion.

–London newsroom: 4420 7862 7491 e-mail: drobinson@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$$BE$,MABDS$]

UK DATA: BOE: UK Mar House purchase approvals 49,860 vs 49,029 Feb
–BOE: Non-Residents Sold net stg1.73bn gilts in Mar
–BOE: UK Mar Net Mortgage lending change m/m +stg0.966bn
–BOE: UK Mar Net CONSumer credit +stg0.419bn vs stg285bn Feb
–BOE: MAR M4 Ex-IOFCS +0.5% m/m; +6.4% 1q/3m ann.; +2.7% 4q/12m
–BOE: UK Mar M4 -0.8% m/m; -5.0% y/y; m4 lending -4.3% y/y
–BOE: UK Mar M4 Y/Y Lowest on record; series began 1964
–BOE: UK Mar M4 EX-IOFCS 1Q/3M Last Higher Q4 2007

Weaker than previous  month but above market expectations of 54.0

Seen on bid on EBS at 1.3166 apparently.

They’re there apparently to stop me attaining my 1.3150 poll target

TOKYO (MNI) – The average price of regular gasoline in Japan this
week fell to Y153.9 ($1.91) per liter, or $7.26 per gallon, from Y155.5
last week, marking a fourth straight weekly drop, data released by the
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy showed Wednesday.

The average retail price this week was 0.9% above the Y152.5 per
liter price seen a year earlier, with the pace of year-on-year gains
decelerating further from a 1.8 % rise in the previous week.

Before the recent decline, the price reached Y158.3 in the week
starting on April 2, the highest in three and a half years since Y161.6
seen in the week of Oct. 14, 2008.

The average price of high-octane gasoline stood at Y164.7 per liter
this week, down from Y166.3 in the previous week. It hit a record high
of Y196.0 on Aug. 4, 2008.

The average price of diesel fuel was at Y133.7 per liter, down from
Y135.0 in the previous week. That compares with the record high of
Y167.4 recorded on Aug. 4, 2008.

The average over-the-counter price of kerosene for heating stood at
Y1,738 per 18 liters this week, down from Y1,749 last week. It posted a
record high of Y2,378 on Aug. 11, 2008.

The average home-delivery kerosene price was at Y1,854 per 18
liters, down from Y1,866 the previous week. It hit a record high of
Y2,484 on Aug. 11, 2008.

tokyo@marketnews.com
** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **

[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]

SA Unemployment: +19k (pan-German), +19k (West), flat (East)
–

FRANKFURT (MNI) – The ranks of the unemployed in Germany
unexpectedly rose in April, while the number of payroll jobs contracted
modestly, the Federal Labour Office reported on Wednesday.

The number of jobseekers rose by 19,000, more than reversing
March’s decline, bringing the total number of unemployed to 2.875
million. Even the most pessimistic analyst polled by MNI had projected
a rise of only 10,000 persons.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged at 6.8% after
March’s figure was revised up 0.1 percentage point.

Without taking into account seasonal trends, the jobless rate fell
0.2 percentage point to 7.0%, reflecting a 20-month low of 2.963 million
persons looking for work in April compared to 3.028 million in March.

Job vacancies fell by 1,000 in April after no change in March.
Payroll jobs, for data for which lag by one month maintained its upward
trend, rising by 29,000 after +43,000 in February.

The April PMI polls show a slight reduction in private sector
employment for the first time since early 2010, as both manufacturers
and service providers adjusted to lower workloads.

As weakening demand from southern Europe offsets robust sales to
Asia and the U.S., further reductions in staff are possible, which could
well create a drag on Germany’s consumption-fueled recovery.

Still, recent surveys suggest the German labour market should
generally continue to develop positively and remain the envy of a number
of Eurozone partners.

Manufacturers and service providers polled by the Ifo institute in
April indicated that they still planned to expand staff, albeit more
cautiously than in March.

While hiring expectations in retail and construction eroded last
month, they remained above average, according to a European Commission
survey,

The Labour Office’s IAB research arm foresees unemployment to
decline to 2.84 million on average this year. With immigration and
increased labour force participation expected to boost the labour force
by 40,000 persons, the institute sees average employment reaching a
post-unification high of 41.55 million.

– Frankfurt bureau: +49 69 720 142, email: frankfurt@marketnews.com –

[TOPICS: M$G$$$,MAGDS$,M$X$$$,M$XDS$,MT$$$$]

Much worse than median foreast of 9.4%.

Just another piece of crap economic data out of the eurozone.

Congratulations to Lello for picking up on my deliberate mistake.

Down from 41.3 in March.

Demontrably weaker than Reuter’s median forecast of -10,000. Nasty shock.

April sa jobless rate 6.8%, worse than Reuter’s median forecast of 6.7%.

GERMANY DATA: April sa unemployment +19k m/m vs MNI fcast -10.0k: Labour
Office
– Germany April sa unemployment rate 6.8% vs March 6.8%
– Germany April sa unemployment 2.875 mln vs March 2.856 mln
– Germany April nsa unemployment rate 7.0% vs March 7.2%
– Germany April nsa unemployment 2.963 mln vs March 3.028 mln
– Germany April sa job vacancies -1k vs March flat
– Germany March sa payroll jobs +29k vs February +43k
– See MNI MainWire for details

Pretty much in line with flash estimate of 46.3.

Down from 48.4 in March and lowest read since July 2009.

Stops tripped through 1.3180 and 1.3170. We’ve been as low as 1.3166, presently at 1.3170.

 To 46.9 from flash estimate of 47.3.

Demonstrably lower than Reuter’s median forecast of 47.0 and demonstrably lower than March read of 47.9.

EUR/USD slumps on the news.  Stops tripped through 1.3200 and been as low as 1.3182 so far.

• Expresses strong dissatisfaction over US Embassy’s taking in of dissident Chen and wants assurance that there will be no reoccurrence
• China accuses US of interferring with Chinese domestic politics, saying US should reflect on its policies and take action to preserve/protect US-chinese relations.

Chen has since left the US embassy and  been sent to a Beijing medical facility for treatment before being reunited with his family