The U.S. Dollar remains quiet ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, even after the release of Durable Goods Orders.
USD
The figures surprised as the indicator was expected to show a 0.3% expansion, instead contracting by (-1.2%). When transportation costs are excluded, a 0.4% increase was registered, but this still fell below expectations of 0.5% for October.
The saving grace may be the revision of September’s numbers where the expansion was thought of being at 0.7%, but came in upgraded at 1.1% Overall; this piece of data has lacked consistency over the year and may not be as influential as we close the year.
The FOMC Minutes are scheduled for 2PM, but we see little if any reaction as the Fed’s move towards hiking is very much determined and priced-in. Monex will be closed Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving and will be open again on Friday.
EUR
The Euro continues to swim in relatively calm waters after Monday’s half-percent decline based on worries in German political stability. At the moment, Chancellor Angela Merkel would not refuse to have another snap election in order to gain seats and have an easier time forming an alliance.
However, headlines overnight saw the prospect of another vote as worrisome, but welcomed the idea of forming a “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats, a party usually aligned with Merkel’s goals, but that suffered bigly on election day and blamed her platform for the failure. We shall see if downside risks manifest themselves into further depreciation, but for now Euro is not paying any heavy tolls.
GBP
The Pound’s recent gains have been subdued slightly due to concerns over Brexit and its symptoms affecting the economic outlook. Later today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, will present a new budget and his remarks may provide guidance the state of affairs. PM Theresa May is just hoping that the EU embraces new talks and the idea of being paid an agreed final bill amount.
Orders in the UK are up to their best level in 30 years per a survey by the Confederation of British Industry. This mix of good economic data and bad news on the Brexit front are likely to dominate the Sterling environment for what’s left of the year and beyond.
