Deleveraging, Demographics & Deficits Will Rule Markets' Price Change in 2013

EUR/USD is coming under renewed pressure, sliding towards multi-week lows in the mid-1.1700s on Thursday. The move lower reflects another strong session for the US Dollar, with the Greenback drawing fresh support from a batch of firm US data that reinforced its underlying bid.

GBP/USD is sliding in tandem with its risk-sensitive peers, drifting back towards the 1.3440 area, its lowest levels in around four weeks. The move reflects a firmer Greenback, supported by another round of solid US data, while a somewhat divided FOMC Minutes has added an extra layer of uncertainty around the Fed’s rate path, keeping Cable on the defensive.

Gold is trading with humble gains on Thursday, hovering around the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce. The yellow metal remains underpinned by renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, even as a stronger US Dollar and rising US Treasury yields across the curve limit the upside and keep price action relatively contained.

XRP extends its decline, nearing $1.40 support, as risk appetite fades in the broader market. SG-FORGE’s EUR CoinVertible launches on the XRP Ledger, leveraging the blockchain’s scalability, speed, security, and decentralization.

It was green across the board for US Stock market indexes at the close on Wednesday, with most S&P 500 names ending higher, adding 38 points (0.6%) to 6,881 overall. At the GICS sector level, energy led gains, followed by technology and consumer discretionary, while utilities and real estate posted the largest losses.

The US Dollar gathered strength in the second half of the day on Wednesday, boosted by the hawkish tone seen in the minutes of the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting. The US economic calendar will feature December Goods Trade Balance figures and the weekly Initial Jobless Claims data. Meanwhile, investors will pay close attention to geopolitical developments.