U.S. Government Shuts Down, German SPD Votes for Coalition Talks with Merkel

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The U.S. government shutdown over the weekend as the Senate failed to pass a bill to keep the funds flowing late on Friday. The Democrats are making an issue of protections for young undocumented immigrants. President Trump has responded saying he will not negotiate on the issue until democrats vote to end the shutdown and reopen the government. How markets will react is still uncertain but risk has increased as a result of this political brinksmanship.

The German SPD party has voted to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel’s Conservatives in an attempt to break the deadlock of the last few months and form a Government for the leading economy in Europe. Party delegates voted 362 to 279 in favour, with one abstention, for negotiations. The leaders had agreed on a blueprint for the coalition earlier this month but once a deal is struck from these negotiations the party will again have to vote to approve any subsequent Coalition before entering government. This vote was only the first step in the process that is expected to be difficult, as leading conservatives earlier rejected SPD demands for major concessions.

On Friday, German Producer Price Index (MoM) (Dec) was released and came in as expected at 0.2%, from 0.1% prior. The Producer Price Index (YoY) (Dec) was also as expected ta 2.3%, from 2.5% previously. EURUSD moved from 1.22447 to 1.22697 after the data release.

UK Retail Sales (MoM) (Dec) were released by the National Statistics, coming in at -1.5% v -0.6% expected, from a prior 1.0%, which was revised down from 1.1%. Retail Sales (YoY) (Dec) figure was 1.4% v a consensus of 3.0%, from 1.6% previously, which was revised down to 1.5%. Retail Sales Ex-Fuel (MoM) (Dec) was -1.6% against a consensus of -0.8%, from 1.1% previously, that was revised down from 1.2%. Retail Sales (YoY) (Dec) was 1.3% v 3.0% expected, from a previous 1.5%. GBPUSD jumped to 1.39451 after the release but sold off during the rest of the session to a low of 1.38386.

US Baker Hughes Rig Count was released at 747. The previously published number was 752. The Fed’s Quarles spoke at the Banking Law Committee Meeting in D.C. saying he intends to ease the burden of FED stress tests. He said that leverage ratio proposals are coming ‘relatively soon’ and that he wants to dial back the burden of living wills.

EURUSD is up 0.07% overnight, trading around 1.22230.

USDJPY is up 0.05% in early session trading at around 110.870.

GBPUSD is up 0.15% to trade around 1.38680.

USDCAD is down -0.11%, trading around 1.24819.

Gold is down -0.07% in early morning trading at around $1,330.10.

WTI is down -0.14% this morning, trading around $63.37.

Major data releases for today:

At 13:30 GMT, US Chicago (Dec) will be released. The consensus is for 0.44 from 0.15 previously. USD crosses could be impacted by these data releases.

Major data releases for the week ahead:

On Tuesday at 04:00 GMT, Bank of Japan Interest Rate Decision and Policy Statement, Press conference to follow.

On Thursday at 12:45 GMT, Eurozone ECB Interest Rate Decision with Policy Statement and Press Conference to follow at 13:30 GMT.

At 13:30 GMT, Canadian Retail Sales (MoM) (Nov) and Retail Sales Ex-Autos (MoM) (Nov) will be released.

On Friday at 13:30 GMT, US Gross Domestic Product Annualized (Q4) will be released.

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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.

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