• Germany’s Merkel to give statement at 14:45 GMT after meeting IMF’s Strauss-Kahn. Rumour circulates that German Chancellor will announce increase in Greek aid package to euros 90 bln
  • Greek securities regulator bans short selling in Greek shares, effective April 28 through June 28
  • ECB’s Stark: Onus on government’s to ensure full blown sovereign debt crisis does not develop. Situation requires much stronger consolidation efforts than conceived so far. No comparison between Portugal and Greece situations. ECB purchase of Greek bonds not being discussed
  • ECB’s Mersh: Asked on Greece says we are in crisis situation
  • Greek/German 10-year government bond yield spreads widen out to over 1,000 bps at one point, 10-year Greek bond yielding over 13%
  • Greek 5-year cds soars. Rises to 911.6 bps, above Venezuela who had been highest of all sovereigns tracked by CMA
  • Italian April business morale rises to 85.5, up from 84.4 in March. Better than median forecast of 84.7 and highest read since June 2008
  • UK Lib Dems Cable: UK could face serious problem like Greece if deficit not tackled by next government
  • UK’s Darling: UK economy is balanced between recession and recovery. Recovery is not guaranteed

Well if you like your trading sessions action-packed this was one for you.

EUR/USD started around 1.3210. Soon came under renewed pressure as concerns surrounding PIGS in general, and Greece in particular, spiralled. BIS stepped in buying in 1.3180/85 area causing a pause, but it was only a brief pause and soon touted stops through 1.3175 gave out. This prompted accelerated sell-off to session low 1.3143.

Talk of Asian sovereigns lined up down at 1.3130/50 lent some support and then a rumour circulated that Merkel was to announce an increase to the proposed Greek aid package later today (see above). That spawned an aggressive bout of short-covering and we’re back up at 1.3205. Buy stops now noted through 1.3225.

USD/JPY rallied from an early 93.25 to 93.90, presently at 93.85. Couple of Japanese banks were seen buying aggressively, some feeling the buying was toshin related.

EUR/JPY up at 123.95 from early 123.10. Hedge funds selling has so far capped rally at 124.04.

Sterling has had tough morning, cable down at 1.5200 from early 1.5265 having been as low as 1.5146 at one stage. EUR/GBP meanwhile is up at ,8685 from early .8650.

Sterling’s cause wasn’t helped by rumour that circulated, suggesting that a UK clearer had put out a note that UK is in danger of losing AAA rating. The bank in question came out and denied scuttlebutt but fair amount of damage had been done. Some would say no smoke without fire. Comments from Vince Cable and Alaistair Darling (see above) hardly helped matters either.