Investing.com - The Aussie trended lower on Monday in early Asian trade in a relatively light regional data day and with U.S. markets closed for Martin Luther King Day.
AUD/USD traded at 0.6854, down 0.10%, reaching lows not seen since 2009, while USD/JPY changed hands at 116.91, down 0.14%.
Ahead in Japan, industrial production for November likely fell 1.0% month-on-month.
In the coming week, investors will be awaiting data on Chinese fourth quarter growth, amid concerns over the outlook for the world’s number two economy, while Friday’s data on euro zone private sector growth will also be in focus.
Investors will also be awaiting monetary policy announcements from the BoC and the European Central Bank.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.01% at 98.98.
Last week, the dollar fell against the yen and the euro on Friday as a combination of weak U.S. economic data and ongoing risk aversion stemming from a fresh drop in oil prices weighed.
Oil prices fell through the $30 a barrel level on Friday, pressured lower by expectations that Iran will resume exports as soon as international sanctions are lifted, amid a global supply glut.
Prices for industrial metals, such as copper and nickel also fell.
The renewed drop in oil and commodity prices sent global equity markets tumbling amid fears of a global economic slowdown.
The dollar also came under pressure after data showing that U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in December while U.S. industrial production also fell last month, down for the third consecutive month.
The Commerce Department said U.S. retail sales fell 0.1% in December, compared to expectations of a 0.1% increase. Separate reports showed that U.S. industrial output fell 0.4% last month, worse than forecasts of a 0.2% drop on lower energy costs, while U.S. producer prices were also down in December.