*Stocks in Asia were generally higher. Australia was among the strongest with a gain of 1.5%, the Nikkei added three quarters of a percent, the Hang Seng was up a half percent and Shanghai rose a quarter percent. European indexes are mixed, with the Footsie off by a slight fraction and the Dax essentially unchanged at the moment. US stock futures are also unchanged.
*The December reading of Australia’s Unemployment Rate was down two tenths on the month to 5.0%, it had been expected to fall only one tenth. However, the net change in the number of employed was only +2.3k, well under the 25k increase that was forecast and down sharply from the gain of 54.6k the month before.
*The November reading of Japan’s Machine Orders is -3.0% on a month on month basis, it had been expected to increase 2.0%.
*The December reading of Germany’s Wholesale Price Index is +1.8% on a month on month basis.
*The November reading of UK Industrial Production is +0.4%, just one tenth under the estimate.
*The Bank of England maintained both their benchmark rate at 0.50% and the asset purchase plan at BP200 billion, as expected.
*The ECB was also steady as she goes, key rate unchanged at 1.00%. Bank President Trichet will tell us all about it at his presser at 7:30am CST.
*Three bits of data are due out at 7:30am CST: The weekly report on Initial Jobless Claims which is expected to be 410k; the December reading of the Producer Price Index is forecast to be +0.8% on a monthly basis and the estimate for the PPI Core is +0.2% month on month; the November reading of the Trade Balance is expected to show a deficit of $40.5 billion.
*The weekly report on inventories of Natural Gas is due out at 9:30am CST, it is expected to be a decline of 148 bcf.
*The Fed is scheduled to buy Treasuries today that are due to mature between 7/31/16 and 12/31/17; the results of the operation will be announced just after 10:00am CST.
*The Treasury plans to sell $13 billion re-opened 30 Year Bonds today; the results of the auction will be announced just after noon CST.
*Fed boss Bernanke is schedule to take part in a panel discussion at the FDIC on small business lending, slated to begin at noon CST; not likely a market moving event, but you never know.
*Intel is scheduled to report its Q4 earnings after the close today; an eps of +53 cents is forecast.
*The December reading of Australia’s Unemployment Rate was down two tenths on the month to 5.0%, it had been expected to fall only one tenth. However, the net change in the number of employed was only +2.3k, well under the 25k increase that was forecast and down sharply from the gain of 54.6k the month before.
*The November reading of Japan’s Machine Orders is -3.0% on a month on month basis, it had been expected to increase 2.0%.
*The December reading of Germany’s Wholesale Price Index is +1.8% on a month on month basis.
*The November reading of UK Industrial Production is +0.4%, just one tenth under the estimate.
*The Bank of England maintained both their benchmark rate at 0.50% and the asset purchase plan at BP200 billion, as expected.
*The ECB was also steady as she goes, key rate unchanged at 1.00%. Bank President Trichet will tell us all about it at his presser at 7:30am CST.
*Three bits of data are due out at 7:30am CST: The weekly report on Initial Jobless Claims which is expected to be 410k; the December reading of the Producer Price Index is forecast to be +0.8% on a monthly basis and the estimate for the PPI Core is +0.2% month on month; the November reading of the Trade Balance is expected to show a deficit of $40.5 billion.
*The weekly report on inventories of Natural Gas is due out at 9:30am CST, it is expected to be a decline of 148 bcf.
*The Fed is scheduled to buy Treasuries today that are due to mature between 7/31/16 and 12/31/17; the results of the operation will be announced just after 10:00am CST.
*The Treasury plans to sell $13 billion re-opened 30 Year Bonds today; the results of the auction will be announced just after noon CST.
*Fed boss Bernanke is schedule to take part in a panel discussion at the FDIC on small business lending, slated to begin at noon CST; not likely a market moving event, but you never know.
*Intel is scheduled to report its Q4 earnings after the close today; an eps of +53 cents is forecast.
No comments:
Post a Comment