Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei up 0.70 %, Shanghai Composite gained 0.45 %, Hang Seng rose 0.40 %, ASX 200 rallied 0.90 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1169 (-0.10 %), Silver at $16.74 (-0.45 %), WTI Oil at $50.65 (-0.60 %), Brent Oil at $53.70 (-0.40 %)
- Rates: US 10-year yield at 2.39, UK 10-year yield at 1.42, German 10-year yield at 0.38
News & Data:
- Australian GDP (QoQ) Q3: -0.5% (est -0.1%, prev 0.5%, rev 0.6%)
- Australian GDP (YoY) Q3: 1.8% (est 2.2%, prev 3.3%)
- Australian AiG Performance of Construction Index Nov: 46.6 (prev 45.9)
- Australian Foreign Reserves (AUD) Nov: 69.9bln (prev 64.9bln)
- Japanese Reuters Tankan DI Dec: 16 (prev 14)
- Japanese Foreign Reserves (USD) Nov: 1.219tln (prev 1.243tln)
- Japanese Leading Index Oct P: 101.0 (est 101.4, prev 100.3)
- Japanese Coincident Index Oct P: 113.9 (est 1114.1, prev 112.7)
- PBoC fixes CNY reference rate at 6.8808 (prev 6.8575)
- BoJ Deputy Gov Iwata: Won't hesitate taking further measures if needed –RTRS
- BoJ Deputy Gov Iwata: No change in BoJ approach of easing via asset purchases and interest rates
- BoJ Deputy Gov Iwata: Yield curve control can only be achieved by massive JGB buying by BoJ
- Asian shares edge up as markets look to ECB after Italian jolt – RTRS
- Oil drops on doubts output cut will be deep enough to end glut – RTRS
Markets Update:
The Australian Dollar declined overnight, following weaker than expected GDP data. Australia’s economy contracted 0.5 % quarter-on-quarter vs. an expected decrease of 0.1 %, while the year-on-year figure came in at 1.8 % vs 2.2 % anticipated. AUD/USD fell from 0.7470 to a low of 0.7415, where it was able to find support. It consolidated between 0.7415-40 for the rest of the session.
NZD/USD was quiet overnight and traded within a 0.7102-0.7127 range. Meanwhile, USD/CAD bounced as oil prices retraced. EUR/USD flows were light in Asia, as it consolidated between 1.0712 and 1.0725. The pair ran into strong resistance ahead of 1.08 yesterday, and the next major obstacle lies at 1.0850. To the downside, support is seen at 1.0690 and 1.06.
Upcoming Events:
- 07:00 BST – German Industrial Production
- 09:30 BST – UK Manufacturing Production
- 09:30 BST – UK Industrial Production
- 15:00 BST – US JOLTs Job Openings
- 15:00 BST – Bank of Canada Rate Decision
- 15:30 BST – US Crude Oil Inventories
- 23:50 BST – Japan GDP
