Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei fell 0.68 %, Shanghai Composite down 0.77 %, Hang Seng lost 1.09 %, ASX 200 declined 0.24 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1257.40, Silver at $15.94, WTI Oil at $57.13, Brent Oil at $63.34
- Rates: US 10-year yield at 2.36, UK 10-year yield at 1.17, German 10-year yield at 0.30
News & Data:
- (USD) Core Retail Sales m/m 1.0 % vs 0.6 % expected
- (USD) Retail Sales m/m 0.8 % vs 0.3 % expected
- (USD) Unemployment Claims 225K vs 237K expected
- (EUR) Minimum Bid Rate 0.00 % vs 0.00 % expected
- (GBP) Official Bank Rate 0.50 % vs 0.50 % expected
- (GBP) MPC Official Bank Rate Votes 0-0-9 vs 0-0-9 expected
- (GBP) Retail Sales m/m 1.1 % vs 0.4 % expected
- (CHF) Libor Rate -0.75 % vs -0.75 % expected
- Fund managers seek stocks benefiting from Democratic gains in 2018 U.S. elections
- Oil stable on tighter market, but rising US output looms for 2018- RTRS
Markets Update:
Asia-pacific equities were mostly lower on Friday as sentiment was hurt by Wall Street’s weakness on concerns about the progress of U.S. tax reform. Dollar headed for its first weekly loss this month as investors assessed messages from Federal Reserve and European Central Bank meetings this week
USDJPY was slightly lower for the day currently seen trading around 112.25 as the Yen gained over 0.1 percent against the US Dollar heading for its strongest week in a month. Japan's Nikkei 225 came under pressure in spite of fresh signs the economy is gathering momentum. The Nikkei 225 slid over 0.6 percent. Major exporters traded lower as the dollar lost ground against the yen.
EURUSD is mostly unchanged and is currently seen steadily trading around 1.1784. On Thursday, the European Central Bank raised growth and inflation forecasts for the euro area, but stuck with its pledge to provide stimulus for as long as needed. The dollar index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of currencies rose close to 0.1 percent for the session and is currently valued at 93.56. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose one basis point to 2.36 percent.
AUDUSD was marginally higher for the session currently seen trading at 0.7673 as the AUD gained 0.1 percent against the US Dollar. Australia’s 10-year yield declined four basis points to 2.52 percent. Meanwhile the Kiwi dollar jumped 0.5 percent against the US Dollar to current levels of over 0.7020.
Upcoming Events:
- 10:00 GMT – (EUR) Trade Balance
- 13:15 GMT – (GBP) MPC Member Haldane Speaks
- 13:30 GMT – (CAD) Manufacturing Sales m/m
- 13:30 GMT – (USD) Empire State Manufacturing Index
- 14:15 GMT – (USD) Capacity Utilization Rate
- 14:15 GMT – (USD) Industrial Production m/m
- & More…
