The AUD is the strongest and the USD is the weakest as the NA session begins. As traders in the US reach their desks at work or at home, they are met with sharply higher stock futures and modestly lower yields. Optimism surged after China's politburo announced plans for "necessary fiscal spending" to achieve its 5% economic growth target, acknowledging new challenges and raising expectations for additional stimulus beyond measures introduced earlier this week. The measures ignited shares in China and Hong Kong with gains in the Shanghai composite index of 3.61% and the Hang Seng index up 4.16%.