This morning, ahead of the European markets open at 07.00am GMT, we saw the release of a range of data from China. Chinese Retail Sales came in at 9.4% v an expected 10.1%, from a previous 10.2%. Industrial Production came in at 6.2% v an expected 6.0%, from a previous 6.1%, and probably the most important, YoY GDP came in unchanged at 6.8% v an expected 6.7%. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data is released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China and studies the gross value of all goods and services produced by China. The indicator presents the pace at which the Chinese economy is growing or decreasing. As the Chinese economy influences the global economy, this economic event normally has an impact on the Asian equity and Forex markets.
Turning to currencies, the U.S. Dollar Index rebounded slightly from its three-year low, currently trading at 90.65. Euro dropped a bit post various ECB speeches, currently trading just below the psychological 1.2200 level. Sterling jumped initially to an intraday high of 1.3940, creating a fresh post-Brexit high, before correcting slightly to 1.3810 ahead of the European open.
In Commodities, WTI is higher, trading very close to the important $64.00, mainly reflecting solid compliance to OPEC production cuts, currently at above 100% for December. Precious metals weakened, with Gold below $1330 and Silver close to $17.00, both trading slightly lower. Other base metals like Copper, Zinc and Aluminum also fell.
Eurozone Consumer Price Index – Core (YoY) (Dec) was released coming in at 1.1%. The consensus was for 0.9%, from 1.1% previously. Consumer Price Index (MoM) (Dec) was as expected at 0.4%, from 0.1% previously. Consumer Price Index (YoY) (Dec) was as expected, unchanged at 1.4%. Consumer Price Index – Core (MoM) (Dec) was 0.5% v an expected 0.4%, from -0.1% prior. EUR/USD moved higher to 1.22495 but then fell back down to retrace the initial move.
UK MPC Member Saunders spoke at the Financial Intermediary and Broker Association inaugural conference in London. He said that any further tightening would be gradual and limited. The Jobless rate is likely to fall to 4% or below in 2018, from 4.3% in late 2017. The near-term outlook for the UK economy is not great but not terrible. Pay growth is likely to increase to 3% or more in 2018. GBP/USD fell to 1.37802 during this time.
US Industrial Production (MoM) (Dec) was released and came in at 0.9%. The consensus was for 0.4%, from 0.2% previously. Capacity Utilization (Dec) was also released at the same time, coming in at 77.9% v an expected 77.3%, from 77.1% prior, which was revised up to 77.2%. USD/JPY sold off from 110.764 to 110.625.
US NAHB Housing Market Index (Jan) was as expected at 72. The previous reading was 74.
The Bank of Canada Rate Statement was made public. The Monetary Policy Report was also released and the Interest Rate Decision was increased, as expected, to 1.25% from 1.00% previously. In the statement, the Bank referenced its concerns about NAFTA. ‘’Recent data have been strong, inflation is close to target, and the economy is operating roughly at capacity. However, uncertainty surrounding the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is clouding the economic outlook.’’
The Bank of Canada Press Conference following the Rate statement was led by Governor Poloz. He reiterated how the Bank’s decisions were data dependent and today’s decision validates what he saw in the marketplace. He again referred to NAFTA and the general tone was neutral.
US Fed’s Beige Book compiles anecdotal evidence from 12 Federal Reserve Banks regarding their local economic conditions. Most districts cited ongoing labor market tightness. The outlook for 2018 remains optimistic. Price growth was modest to moderate and almost all respondents saw modest to moderate growth. Firms in some districts noted increasing pricing power.
At 23:50, Japanese Foreign Investment in Japanese Stocks (Jan 12) came in at ¥498.7B, from a prior reading of ¥597.9B. Foreign Bond Investment (Jan 12) was ¥953.5B, from a previous reading of ¥173B. The USDJPY currency pair reacted negatively to the published figure, initially dipping lower from the pre-announcement 111.35 level.
Australian Employment Change s.a. (Dec) was 34.7K v an expected 9.0K, from 63.6K previously. The Unemployment Rate s.a. (Dec) was 5.5% v 5.4%, from 5.4% previously. The Participation Rate (Dec) was 65.7% v 65.4% expected, from 65.5% previously. The AUDUSD currency pair reacted negatively to the employment data, initially dipping lower from the pre-announcement 0.7975 level.
EUR/USD is down overnight, trading around 1.2200.
USD/JPY is up in early session trading at around 111.28.
GBP/USD is down to trade around 1.3822.
USD/CAD is up, trading around 1.2447.
Gold is down in early morning trading at around $1,327.65.
WTI is up this morning, trading around $63.94.
Major data releases for today:
At 08:15 GMT, UK German Buba President Weidmann will speak to a joint conference of the IMF and Bundesbank in Frankfurt. EUR crosses can be moved by the comments made during this time.
At 13:30 GMT, US Building Permits (MoM) (Dec) will be released. The consensus is for 1.290M from 1.298M previously. Housing Starts Change (Dec) will also be released at this time, with an expectation for 77.3% v 3.3% prior. Housing Starts (MoM) (Dec) is expected at 1.275M v a prior of 1.297M. Building Permits Change (Dec) is expected to be -1.0%, from -1.4% previously. Initial Jobless Claims (Jan 12) is expected to be 250K, from 261K previously. Continuing Jobless claims (Jan 5) is expected at 1.900M, from 1.867M previously. Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey (Jan) is expected to be 25.0 v a prior 26.2. USD crosses could be impacted by these data releases.
At 14:30 GMT, ECB’s Coeure will speak and his comments can trigger an increase in volatility in EUR crosses.
At 21:30 GMT, New Zealand Business NZ PMI (Dec) will be released. The previous release showed a PMI of 57.7. NZD pairs could be affected by this data.