Japanese Yen Continues to Extend Gains

Team FxPro FxPro

After yesterday’s surprise move by the Bank of Japan to reduce bond purchases, the Yen has continued its move against other currencies. GBPJPY, for example, is down -0.65%, trading at 151.556, adding to yesterday’s move. Stops are being triggered in an unwind of the recent trend. Even the Japanese stock market is under pressure, with the Japan 225 down -0.36%, trading around 23777.00 for a second consecutive down day.

Chinese Consumer Price Index (YoY) (Dec) came in at 1.8% v 1.9% expected with a prior of 1.7%. Producer Price Index (YoY) (Dec) was 4.9% v 4.8% expected with the previous number of 5.8%. Consumer Price Index (MoM) (Dec) came in at 0.3% v 0.4% expected from a previous of 0.0%.

German Trade Balance s.a. (Nov) came out at 22.3B v an expected 20.9B, from a previous 19.9B. Exports (MoM) (Nov) were 4.1% v an expected 1.2%, from -0.4% previously that was revised up to -0.3%. Imports (MoM) (Nov) were 2.3% v 0.8% expected, from 1.8% prior. Current Account n.s.a. (Nov) was 25.4B v 25.5B consensus, from a previous of 18.1B. EURUSD moved higher after the data to test 1.19707 but sellers took price lower subsequently.

Swiss Real Retail Sales (YoY) (Nov) came in at -0.2% compared to a consensus of -2.5% and the previous number was -3.0%, but this was revised up to -2.6%. USDCHF moved higher when the data was published to test resistance at 0.88335.

Eurozone Unemployment Rate (Nov) was as expected at 8.7% v a prior of 8.8%. EURGBP sold off from 0.88254 to 0.88084 following the data release.

Canadian Housing Starts s.a (YoY) (Dec) was in at 217K v an expected 212.5K, from a prior of 252.2K which was revised to 251.7K. USDCAD sold off from 1.24438 to 1.24243 in reaction to this.

EURUSD is down -0.09% overnight, trading around 1.19253.

USDJPY is down -0.43% in the early session trading at around 112.157.

EURJPY is down -0.51% this morning, trading around 133.754.

GBPUSD is down -0.20% to trade around 1.35138.

USDCAD is up 0.08%, trading around 1.24731.

Gold is down -0.23% in early morning trading at around $1,309.37.

WTI is down -0.09%, trading around $63.35.

Major data releases for today:

At 09:30 GMT, UK Industrial Production (MoM) (Nov) will be released with an expected reading of 0.3% from a prior of 0.0%. Industrial Production (YoY) (Nov) consensus reading is 1.8%, with a prior of 3.6%. Manufacturing Production (MoM) (Nov) is expected to be 0.3%, with a previous reading of 0.1%. Manufacturing Production (YoY) (Nov) is expected at 2.8% from a prior of 3.9%. Traders of GBP pairs will be watching these data points closely.

Tentative – German 10-year Bond Auction. The previous auction’s Interest Rate was 0.3%. EUR pairs may react to this data.

At 13:00 GMT, UK NIESR GDP Estimate (3M) (Dec) data will be released. The previous data came in at 0.5%. This data attempts to predict the Government’s released data.

Tentative – US 10-Year Note Auction. The previous auction’s interest rate was 2.384%. USD crosses could react to this data.

At 18:30 GMT, US FOMC Member Bullard will be speaking. This may affect USD crosses, stocks, commodities and bonds.

Author

Team FxPro

FxPro

FxPro is a UK headquartered online broker providing contracts for difference (CFD) on foreign exchange, shares, futures and precious metals primarily to retail clients.

EUR/USD weakens as US jobs data trims Fed rate cut bets

The EUR/USD pair trades in negative territory for the third consecutive day near 1.1860 during the early European session on Thursday. Traders will keep an eye on the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims data. On Friday, the attention will shift to the US Consumer Price Index inflation report.

GBP/USD bullish outlook prevails above 1.3600, UK GDP data looms

The GBP/USD pair gains ground near 1.3635, snapping the two-day losing streak during the early European session on Thursday. The preliminary reading of UK Gross Domestic Product for the fourth quarter will be closely watched later on Thursday. The UK economy is estimated to grow 0.2% QoQ in Q4, versus 0.1% in Q1.

Gold remains on the defensive below two-week top; lacks bearish conviction amid mixed cues

Gold sticks to modest intraday losses through the Asian session on Thursday, though it lacks follow-through selling and remains close to a nearly two-week high, touched the previous day. The commodity currently trades above the $5,070 level, down just over 0.20% for the day, amid mixed cues.

UK GDP set to post weak growth as markets rise bets on March rate cut

Markets will be watching closely on Thursday, when the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics will release the advance estimate of Q4 Gross Domestic Product. If the data land in line with consensus, the UK economy would have continued to grow at an annualised pace of 1.2%, compared with 1.3% recorded the previous year.

The market trades the path not the past

The payroll number did not just beat. It reset the tone. 130,000 vs. 65,000 expected, with a 35,000 whisper. 79 of 80 economists leaning the wrong way. Unemployment and underemployment are edging lower. For all the statistical fog around birth-death adjustments and seasonal quirks, the core message was unmistakable. The labour market is not cracking.

Sonic Labs’ vertical integration fuels recovery in S token

Sonic, previously Fantom (FTM), is extending its recovery trade at $0.048 at the time of writing, after rebounding by over 12% the previous day. The recovery thesis’ strengths lie in the optimism surrounding Sonic Labs’ Wednesday announcement to shift to a vertically integrated model, aimed at boosting S token utility.