By Vicki Schmelzer

NEW YORK (MNI) - Speculative accounts built a new record net euro short position and trimmed their net yen long position as per March 9, according to data released late Friday by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

By Vicki Schmelzer

NEW YORK (MNI) - Speculative accounts built a new record net euro short position and trimmed their net yen long position as per March 9, according to data released late Friday by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

By Vicki Schmelzer

NEW YORK, March 12 (MNI) - The catch phrase "green shoots" has been revived in recent sessions, as financial markets pointed to upbeat data from China as well and other countries this week.

In 2010 however, market players -- having had their fingers burned several times last year -- are more cautious in their enthusiasm that the worst in the U.S. economy has already been seen.

STANFORD, California (MNI) - A delayed withdrawal of European Central Bank measures used to boost lending during the financial crisis would distort market behaviour and lead to a misallocation of credit, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Friday.

The ECB considers the current pace of withdrawal "appropriate," he added.

By Vicki Schmelzer

NEW YORK (MNI) - Speculative accounts built a new record net euro short position and trimmed their net yen long position as per March 9, according to data released late Friday by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

By Dennis Pettit

NEW YORK, March 12 (MNI) - The dollar was holding slight gains vs. the euro and yen as the week wound down Friday, but the greenback gains vs. the euro only represented a small clawback of steeper dollar losses suffered overnight after the euro finally burst above the $1.3700 that had capped recent sessions.

Euro-dollar was changing hands at $1.3755 in afternoon dealings Friday, slightly below the early $1.3772 level of the session with the euro pinned in a $1.3725/85 range during the U.S. session.

BRUSSELS (MNI) - New rules to regulate the E2 trillion hedge funds and alternative investment industry are set to be thrashed out at a meeting of European Union finance ministers here Tuesday.

An agreement is likely, EU diplomats said, because the proposals will be decided by a qualified majority and no country has power of veto over the final decision. But there is likely to be a heated debate over the rules, which some countries say contravene the EU's single market principles.

LONDON (MNI) - Risk rally has seen the curve flatten today as the US dollar is sold across the board.

Big moves higher in euro, sterling and Swiss against the dollar has seen vols tumble.

Traders report there has been a big buyer of 1 week 1.3900 calls in euro-dollar - the amount said to be around 700 million euros. The 1-month ATM cable vol is down to 11.40 from 11.70.