Forex today remained in a wait-and-see mode, with most majors consolidating the overnight moves while awaiting the Chinese macro releases. The Aussie nursed losses amid mixed Aus jobs data. The Yen traded better offered, as the US extended rebound across the board.
Amongst the commodities, oil prices traded firmer on bullish API crude inventory report while gold prices kept losses below $ 1330 levels amid higher Treasury yields and positive Asian equities.
Main topics in Asia
Australia December employment change beats estimates, jobless rate ticks higher
The data released by Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed the economy added 34.7K jobs in December vs. forecast of 9K.
BoJ officials reported as saying current stimulus is needed for now
Bloomberg quoted an unnamed Bank of Japan (BoJ) official as saying that the current is needed for now while adding that the market is getting ahead of itself.
White House Official: Congress will pass a stopgap bill to keep government funded
According to the White House Chief of Staff Kelly, the US Congress will pass a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown, Reuters reports.
China's holdings of US treasuries fell to 4-month low in November
China’s holdings of US Treasuries fell to $1.176 trillion in November, its lowest in four months.
South Korean regulator considering shutting down all virtual currency exchanges
Reuters reports the latest headlines, citing that the South Korean regulator is said to consider shutting down all virtual currency exchanges.
Key Focus ahead
We have all-important China’s Q4 GDP release accompanied by the country’s industrial production and retail sales data, which will be reported at 0700 GMT (delayed by the source) while the EUR calendar remains data-empty. Hence, most majors will closely track the USD dynamics and risk trends ahead of the US building permits, housing starts, unemployment claims and Philly Fed manufacturing Index, all of which are due on the cards at 1330 GMT. Also in focus remains the German Bundesbank Chief Weidmann’s speech and EIA crude oil inventories data.
EUR/USD: Will buyers regain control above 1.2200?
The EUR/USD pair staged a solid comeback in Asia, having reversed from four-day lows of 1.2165. However, sellers continued to lurk just ahead of the 1.22 handle, leaving the rates in a consolidative phase below the last.
GBP/USD - Rising risk reversals contradict widening 10Y US-UK yield spread
Currently, GBP/USD trades at 1.3812 - down more than 100 pips from the previous day's high of 1.3943. The long upper shadow of yesterday's candle could be read as a sign of bull market exhaustion.
When is China Q4 GDP and how could it affect the AUD/USD?
China is set to publish the gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter at 07:00 GMT.
China: Key economic events today - Barclays
The Barclays Research Team is out with a brief preview of their expectations on the upcoming Chinese macro releases due to be reported at 7GMT today.
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