Thursday 14th December: European Open Briefing

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Global Markets:

  • Asian stock markets: Nikkei fell 0.32 %, Shanghai Composite down 0.22 %, Hang Seng lost 0.24 %, ASX 200 declined 0.17 %
  • Commodities: Gold at $1260.10, Silver at $16.11, WTI Oil at $56.70, Brent Oil at $62.80
  • Rates: US 10-year yield at 2.36, UK 10-year yield at 1.21, German 10-year yield at 0.31

News & Data:

  • (CNY) Industrial Production y/y 6.1 % vs 6.1 % expected
  • (AUD) Employment Change 61.6 K vs 18.1 K expected
  • (AUD) Unemployment Rate 5.4 % vs 5.4 % expected
  • (USD) Federal Funds Rate <1.50 % vs <1.50 % expected
  • (USD) Crude Oil Inventories -5.1 M vs -3.6 M expected
  • (USD) CPI m/m 0.4 % vs 0.4 % expected
  • (USD) Core CPI m/m 0.1 % vs 0.2 $ expected
  • (GBP) Average Earnings Index 3m/y 2.5 % vs 2.5 % expected
  • (GBP) Claimant Count Change 5.9 K vs 3.3 K expected
  • (GBP) Unemployment Rate 4.3 % vs 4.2 % expected
  • Fed raises ratses a quarter point, hikes growth outlook for economy
  • Fed chief Yellen says bitcoin is a 'highly speculative asset'
  • Dow notches record close after Fed hikes rates
  • Oil slips as U.S. gasoline stock build overshadows crude draw

Markets Update:

Asia-pacific equities were mostly lower on Thursday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the third time this year, a move that was widely expected by markets. Federal Reserve still expects three rate increases in 2018. Chinese shares declined after a surprise hike in short-term interest rates by China’s central bank

USDJPY was marginally higher for the day currently seen trading around 112.60 as the Yen lost 0.1 percent against the US Dollar. The Yen had jumped 0.9 percent Yesterday with USDJPY dropping to lows of 112.45. The Nikkei 225 erased early gains to slide over 0.30 percent. Automakers were mostly lower, as were most blue-chip tech names. Energy-related names were mixed.

EURUSD is mostly unchanged and is currently seen steadily trading around 1.1820. The EUR had rallied 0.7 percent on Wednesday against the US Dollar reaching as high as 1.1844.  The dollar index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of currencies is is little changed for the session after falling 0.7 percent on Wednesday to 93.43. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose one basis point to 2.36 percent. It fell six basis points in its first retreat in a week on Wednesday after the Fed.

AUDUSD continued its rally currently seen trading above 0.7662 as the Australian dollar gained 0.4 percent against the USD after getting a boost following the release of expectation-topping employment data.  Australia’s 10-year yield climbed almost three basis points to 2.56 percent. Meanwhile the NZDUSD was slightly lower for the session trading around 0.7000 as the Kiwi lost around 0.3 percent against the US Dollar.

Upcoming Events:

  • 08:30 GMT – (CHF) Libor Rate
  • 09:00 GMT – (CHF) SNB Press Conference
  • 09:30 GMT – (GBP) Retail Sales m/m
  • 12:00 GMT – (GBP) Official Bank Rate
  • 12:45 GMT – (EUR) Minimum Bid Rate
  • 13:30 GMT – (EUR) ECB Press Conference
  • 13:30 GMT – (USD) Core Retail Sales m/m
  • 13:30 GMT – (USD) Retail Sales m/m
  • 13:30 GMT – (USD) Unemployment Claims
  • 17:25 GMT – (CAD) BOC Gov Poloz Speaks
  • & More…

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