Reports that a file from a former UK intelligence officer, which has circulated among policymakers and reporters for sometime, claim that Russia has material to try to blackmail Trump. Senior people close to the President-elect were said to be in contact with Russia during the campaign. Yet these political developments have been unable to derail the dollar, which is edging higher against most of the major currencies today.
The focus is on US politics and the high degree of uncertainty. The lead story in the Financial Times is that Trump's nominee for Attorney General Sessions retreats from Trump's election rhetoric in Senate hearing. In particular, the paper identifies three areas of divergence, Russia, Muslims, and torture. Today, Tillerson, the former Exxon CEO, and nominee for Secretary of State is also expected to take a firmer line on the risks from Russia.
Those hearings may be overshadowed to some extent today by Trump's press conference, the first since July. The topic initially was going to be how he was arranging his extensive investments to avoid potential conflicts of interest, but the reports on Russia may be of more immediate interest. And it is not like there is much US data to compete with these political developments. The MBA's Mortgage Applications report is the only data on tap. The economic calendar picks up starting tomorrow with import prices and weekly initial jobless claims, followed by Friday's PPI and retail sales.
In fact, the economic calendar has been sparse today. The highlights are the continued reporting of national industrial output figures for November in Europe and the UK's trade figures. The UK and Spain reported industrial production figures, and both followed the lead of France yesterday to report stronger than expected data. Spain's industrial output jumped 1.8% in the month of November. The Bloomberg median forecast was for a 0.4% gain. The year-over-year seasonally adjusted pace is 3.2%, up from 0.6% in October (initially 0.5%).
The UK's industrial output rose 2.1% in November, and the October decline was shaved too -1.1% from -1.3%. This is the largest increase in seven months. The year-over-year pace stands at 2.0%. The Bloomberg median forecast was for a 0.7% pace. Manufacturing drove the increase. It rose 1.3% on the month and 1.2% year-over-year.
On the other hand, the UK trade balance deteriorated more than expected. The overall trade balance (goods and services) rose to GBP4.167 bln, which is more than 10% larger than anticipated. The October shortfall was revised to GBP1.547 bln from GBP1.971 bln. The deterioration can be accounted for by merchandise trade. That trade deficit widened to GBP12.16 bln from a revised GBP9.885 bln (from GBP9.711 bln). Total imports jumped 8.4%. Imports of transport equipment (e.g., ships and aircraft) rose and the increase (GBP1.4 bln) accounts for around half of the trade deterioration. Exports rose 2.8%.
Higher commodity prices are helping lift equity markets today. Oil is firming after approaching one-month lows, partly in anticipation of a 1.5 mln barrel build in US oil stockpiles. Iron ore prices rose 3% in China after a 5.5% gain on Tuesday. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.2%. It has been up every day this week and has advanced five of the past six sessions and nine of the past 11. Korea and India markets led with gains of near 1.5% and 1.0% gains respectively. The Hang Seng's 0.8% advance is notable because it is the fifth successive gain and the ninth gain in 10 sessions.
European markets are narrowly mixed. Germany, France, and the UK equities are edging higher, while Spain and Italy are slightly heavy. Telecoms and materials are leading the small gain in the Dow Jones Stoxx 600. It is the opposite in the bond markets. Core bonds are heavy and peripheral bonds are firmer. The US 10-year Treasury is just below 2.40%.
The euro poked above $1.0625 yesterday, its high for the year, but found keen sellers. As North American dealers return, the euro is back on the week's lows a little above $1.0510. We have suggested a break of $1.080-$1.0500 would offer the first sign that the dollar's correction that arguably began in mid-December is over. The dollar found support near JPY115.20 yesterday and has recovered to almost JPY116.50. There seems to be potential toward JPY117.50 the week's high, but still a big figure off last week's high near JPY118.60.
Sterling has traded on both sides of yesterday's range. As we noted earlier, the break of $1.22 earlier this week, for the first time since in more than two months, is important from a technical point of view. It now is acting as resistance and sterling was sold as this was approached in Asia. Sterling briefly dipped below $1.21 for the first time since October 25. A near-term low may be in place, and another test on $1.22 cannot be ruled out now.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars are among the best performers today and are extending this week's advance. The Aussie is knocking on $0.7400, its best level since the Fed hike. A move above there would spur gains toward $0.7500. The kiwi continues to trade in the same broad range it has been in since the second half of last week. The Canadian dollar is firm, and although, like the Aussie is near its best levels since mid-December, it is trading in a relatively narrow range for the last several sessions.