FOREX-Euro wary ahead of ECB; Aussie basks in growth glow

* Euro softer against many of its peers but up versus yen

* ECB could loosen policy at Thursday's review

* Aussie dollar holds gains after upbeat local data

By Ian Chua

SYDNEY, March 6 (Reuters) - The euro stayed on the defensive early on Thursday, having lost ground against many of its peers as investors made short shrift of the common currency ahead of possible policy easing by the European Central Bank.

Market concerns about Ukraine continued to simmer in the background with high-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis making little apparent headway so far. News Search ID:nL6N0M23QI

The euro last stood at $1.3736 EUR= , having slipped as far as $1.3707 overnight. It was also down against sterling

EURGBP=R and the Australian dollar EURAUD=R but managed to drift up versus the yen to 140.43 EURJPY=R .

"We think Thursday will be a big day for euro bears, with the ECB likely to deliver significant policy easing measures, weakening the currency," analysts at BNP Paribas wrote in a note to clients.

There is talk the ECB may loosen monetary policy by ending so-called sterilisation of its bond purchases that could release around 175 billion euros ($242 billion) into the financial system.

That should bring down interbank lending rates and could also knock the euro lower against the U.S. dollar. The ECB will, for the first time, publish staff forecasts stretching into 2016. News Search ID:nL6N0M03LS

BNP economists expect the ECB to cut rates as well.

With the euro on the back foot, the U.S. dollar index .DXY climbed to its highest for the week at 80.272. It has since retreated to 80.071, partly due to disappointing U.S. data.

Reports on Wednesday showed U.S. private employers added fewer workers than expected in February and growth in the services sector slowed. All eyes are now on non-farm payrolls due on Friday. News Search ID:nL1N0M20XV

Against the yen, the greenback stood at 102.32 JPY= , continuing to pull away from Monday's trough of 101.20. Talk of maturities in dollar/yen options could inject a bit of volatility in the pair, traders said.

A notable performer overnight was the Australian dollar, which hit a one-week high near 90 U.S. cents AUD=D4 after local data showed the economy sped up more than expected in the fourth quarter. News Search ID:nL3N0M14U8

The Aussie could build on that head of steam if retail sales data due at 0030 GMT showed further strength in consumer spending. It was last at $0.8987.

(Ian Chua)

((ian.chua@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 9373 1871)(RM: ian.chua.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS FOREX/