The British Pound held on to the 1.65 level against the US Dollar after coming off the late NY-session high in overnight trading ahead of a report that is set to show Retail Sales grew for the second straight month in July. Switzerland’s Trade Balance and ZEW survey of investor confidence are also on tap.

Key Overnight Developments

• Australia Recalls Ambassador to China for ‘Urgent Meeting’
• RBA Sold A$705 Million into Currency Markets in July
• Euro, British Pound Yield Flat Result After Choppy Session

Critical Levels

8 20 09 euopen 1 British Pound Holds 1.65 Level Against US Dollar Ahead of Retail Sales Report (Euro Open)

The Euro stands effectively flat having spent much of the overnight session in choppy consolidation above the 1.42 level. The British Pound followed suit, oscillating above the 1.65 mark.

Asia Session Highlights

8 20 09 euopen 2 British Pound Holds 1.65 Level Against US Dollar Ahead of Retail Sales Report (Euro Open)

Australia’s ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, was told to return to Canberra on such a short notice to participate in urgent talks considering the waning relationship between the two countries, reports have said. Moments ago, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stated that Australia-China relations are full of challenges. Much of the diplomatic tensions came after China detained Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu in an espionage dispute. It is of some worry that trade between the two nations will suffer as a result. Grief between the two comes during a period in which the 1.3-billion person nation found itself to be the largest single country destination for Australian exports. Since the start of the year, Australian shipments to the Asian country have surged 54%. But with Australia failing to even show up in the official export statistics figure for China, it appears as though the latter has less to worry over its ties with the former.