There were no data releases from the UK yesterday. The pound continued to fall against the dollar and the euro on Wednesday, as the attacks in Brussels were seen as increasing the chances of a British exit from the European Union in a June 23 referendum. The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee, which is charged with safeguarding financial stability, was to hold its final meeting before the referendum later Wednesday. With Governor Mark Carney warning about international risks to the U.K. economy, weak price growth is giving him leeway to keep interest rates at a record low. Pacific Investment Management Co. said its base case is for no U.K. rate increase this year, and it even sees a greater risk of a cut.
In the Us session New Home Sales figures were released. Sales of new single-family houses in February 2016 were at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 512,000, in line with market expectations, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 2.0% above the revised January rate of 502,000, but is 6.15 below the February 2015 estimate of 545,000.
From the UK, tomorrow, Retail Sales data will be released. Fall by 0.7% is anticipated. In the US session Durable Goods Orders and Unemployment Claims figures will be published. Analysts forecast 3% decrease in Durable Goods Orders, while Unemployment Claims should incline to 267,000.
Figures to watch:
Retail Sales (Thursday 10:30)
Durable Goods Orders (Thursday 14:30)
Unemployment Claims (Thursday 14:30)