London, May 3 (BridgeNews) - The following is a summary of overnight moves since Europe's close, plus possible leaders for the session ahead: KEY ISSUES:

* USD softens after Beige Book says U.S. activity "slow" in March, April
* Euro zone April economic sentiment survey in focus
* Halifax reports 1.7% monthly rise in U.K. April house prices

--The USD softened against the EUR, JPY and CHF in late US trading overnight, before consolidating in narrow ranges during a holiday thinned Asian session. The USD suffered as the Beige Book said U.S. economic activity was "slow" in March and April as factory activity continued to weaken and labour market tightness unwound. Argentina reportedly said its 50/50 peg to the USD and EUR would not be implemented until EUR/USD reaches parity.
--EUR/USD recovered from late European levels just under the 0.89 figure to a 4-day high of 0.8980 on position squaring ahead of Friday's U.S. jobs report.
The pair hovered above the 0.8950 level for the whole of the Asian session in thin trading as Japan was absent on holiday. German offers are reported above the high. The euro zone economic sentiment index for April is released at 1000 GMT while the ECB's Issing speaks on "The euro and the ECB" at a seminar in London, also at 1000 GMT. The ECB's Padoa-Schioppa speaks on the EUR at 1800 GMT. The French household survey for April is released at 0645 GMT.
--USD/JPY dropped to a 9-day low of 121.31 in late US trading on selling from a US investment bank and a hedge fund liquidating intraday long positions which took out stops at the 122 figure and 121.50. EUR/JPY remained trapped in a range between 108.40 and 109.10.
--EUR/GBP was carried to a 4-day high around 0.6255 as the EUR gained ground, while cable pushed to a 3-day high around 1.4375 in late U.S. trading.
The Nikkei Shimbum reported that Vodafone may increase its stake in Japan Telecom to above 50% in the future, after its purchase of BT's stake took its holding to 45%. The Halifax reported U.K. house prices rose by 1.7% on the month and 5.7% year on year in April, and said it sees evidence of a strengthening in U.K. housing demand. The CIPS services index for April is due 0830 GMT.
--USD weakness saw AUD/USD hit an 8-week high around 0.5225 in early US trading while USD/CAD pushed off a 2-month low of 1.5288 to the 1.5335 area in the US session.