Session Recap: USD pressed lower holds above 81.50 of DXY; Japan retail sales soft

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - Slow session in the Asia-Pacific again for the USD to start the week, ahead of key end of month Wednesday with plenty of risk events taking place that day, and later on ECB meeting Thursday and US NFP Friday.

EUR/USD has printed fresh session highs at 1.3295 while AUD/USD at 0.9286, and USD/JPY session lows at 97.63, with USD index defending the 81.50 level in the DXY spot index. Commodities have overall eased with Gold, Silver, Copper and Oil trading near session lows.

Local share markets trade all also in the negative, lead by the Nikkei index which is down more than -2.50% and the Shanghai Composite -1.52%, following worse than expected retail sales in Japan y/y coming out at +1.6% vs. +1.7%. US SP500 futures are currently trading at fresh session lows below the 1690 mark.

Main headlines in the Asian Session:

German Finance Minister Schaeuble: Germany to take on less new debt this year than planned

Japan's PM Abe rethinks sales tax hike; inflation case strengthens?

China announces 'urgent' govt debt audit

Merkel’s centre-right coalition loses lead over opposition -poll

Der Spiegel report: Several German banks face new write-offs, may need more capital

US vice president Biden: China growth slowdown won’t derail US economic recovery

Italian Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni says Italy to exit recession by the end of 2013

Japan's retail sales soft, consumption slowing down?

Former Barclays Capital trader spills the secrets: We all talked about it like it was lambs to the slaughter

China debt crackdown: when it rains, it pours...

Consensus is for $20 bn 'Septaper'; U.S. Dollar has room to rally

ECB to soon publish minutes of its meetings?