Daily Forex Fundamental Overview

Fundamental Analysis

EUR

"GDP growth in the euro area was stable last quarter, and while this report does not carry any details we are confident that the key story was a rebound in domestic demand, which offset a reversal in net exports".

- Claus Vistesen, Pantheon Macro

The single currency economy expanded in the third quarter, showing a 0.3% in the region's gross domestic product (GDP) on the previous three months and up 1.6% on a yearly basis. The figures were spurred by a rebound in smaller countries, including Portugal, which saw its fastest growth pace since 2013. During the last week, the European Commission cut its GDP forecasts for the euro area on advanced political uncertainty and weaker global trade. The EU expects the currency bloc to grow 1.7% this year and 1.5% in 2017, after climbing 2% in 2015.

In the meantime European stocks were mixed on Tuesday, as market sentiment remained globally positive following the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States last week, while disappointing German third-quarter growth weighed. Moreover, earlier on Tuesday, preliminary data showed that German gross domestic product went up 2% in the third quarter, disappointing expectations for an increase of 0.3% and down from a growth rate of 0.4% in the previous quarter.

GBP

"While slowing price growth may have come as a surprise to the markets, the days of low interest rates are numbered".

- Nick Dixon, Aegon

British consumer prices dropped unexpectedly last month, despite the steep fall in the value of the British Pound after the Brexit vote, official data showed on Tuesday. According to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Price Index advanced 0.9% year-over-year in October, compared to the preceding month's 1.0% rise. That was below the 1.1% market forecast, who suggested that the weak Sterling would lift inflation last month. Nevertheless, the ONS said factory gate prices increased 2.1%, faster than expected and the largest increase since April 2012. Furthermore, the Producer Price Index jumped 4.6% on a monthly basis in the reported month, after rising just 0.1% in the previous month, whereas economists penciled in an increase of 1.6%. Meanwhile, the Retail Price Index came in at 2.0% in October, unchanged from the same month one year ago. In addition, the ONS reported the so-called core inflation rate declined to 1.2% from September's 1.5%, falling behind analysts' expectations of 1.4%. UK inflation remained below the Bank of England's target of 2% for almost three years already. According to the Bank of England's latest inflation forecasts published earlier this month, UK inflation is expected to climb to 2.7% by this time next year.

USD

"The consumer is in good shape. The pace of household spending is fairly solid. We expect a slight acceleration this quarter from the third-quarter rate".

- Michael Gapen, Barclays

US retail sales posted a better than expected increase last month, suggesting economic strength and increasing chances for a December interest rate hike. The US Department of Commerce said on Tuesday retail sales climbed 0.8% on a monthly basis in October, following September's upwardly revised gain of 0.5% and surpassing the 0.5% increase forecast. Year-over-year, retail sales grew 4.3% last month. Excluding volatile items such as motor vehicles and parts, retail sales advanced 0.8% in October, whereas economists expected them to increase just 0.5%. Meanwhile, the preceding month's reading was revised up to 0.7% from the originally reported rise of 0.5%. The October stronger than expected retail sales supported the view that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its next policy meeting on December 13-14. The last time the Fed increased its key rate was December 2015, and kept its steady since then because of low inflation rates. Back in the Q3, the US economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.9% and it is set to grow 3.1% in the Q4, according to the latest economic growth forecasts released by the Atlanta Fed. As a result, the US Dollar jumped markedly against the Euro, with the EUR/USD pair declining to $1.0733 from $1.0759 ahead of the release.

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