Forex,commodity mkt update

In early Tokyo currency trade the dollar bought 104.80 yen, against 104.82 yen late in New York and down from rates slightly above 105 yen in Tokyo Wednesday. The euro fetched $1.3572 and 142.41 yen compared with $1.3574 and 142.26 yen in the United States. Australia's Qantas climbed 1.55 percent on Thursday eve after Moody's cut its rating to junk status -- following a similar move last month by Standard & Poor's -- in response to the airline's profit warning. Moody's cited "a sharp deterioration in the company's core domestic business" after the carrier forecast in December a half-year loss of up to Aus$300 million (US$267 million) and the slashing of 1,000 jobs due to "immense" cost pressures. Shares in China picked up slightly soon after figures showed inflation at 2.6 percent in 2013, official data showed Thursday, well below Beijing's 3.5 percent target. On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, was up 27 cents at $92.60 in early Asian trading while Brent North Sea crude for February rose 23 cents at $107.38. Gold fetched $1,227.51 at 0200 GMT compared with $1,225.50 late Wednesday, according to AFP.