Not too much change during Asian trade, when all said and done. Sterling has made some marginal gains, while Japanese yen is a little weaker.

Cable is at 1.6250, up from a North American close Monday around 1.6225, while GBP/JPY is up at 151.40 from around 150.75.

Some encouraging UK data out overnight. UK property values are set to rise in the next 3 months as a lack of homes props up prices, according to the latest RICS survey. For the first time since May 2007, the number of estate agents expecting house prices to increase outnumber those predicting a fall.

Elsewhere UK high street retailers have reported a bumper June, the heatwave boosting demand for summer food, shoes and clothes. Like for like sales rose 1.4% in the year to June, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium.

The Jpy was weaker against a backdrop of heightened risk appetite, with Asian stockmarkets making solid gains overnight.

Some interesting European data out this morning, which may well ellicit some reaction.

08:30 GMT: UK DCLG house prices (May) expected -12.6 y/y

08:30 GMT: UK CPI (June) expected +0.3% m/m, +1.8% y/y Core +1.6% y/y

09:00 GMT: German ZEW survey, economic sentiment (July) expected 47.8, up from 44.8 previously

09:00 GMT: Euro zone ZEW survey economic sentiment (July) expected 44.0 , up from 42.7 previously

09:00 GMT: Euro zone industrial production (May) expected +1.5% m/m, -17.5% y/y.