The Chicago Business Barometer decreased 7.5 points to 48.7 in November from 56.2 in October, as a sharp fall in New Orders put it back into contraction for the sixth time this year. Smaller decrease to 54.3 was anticipated. The significant decline in the Barometer is indicative of the see-saw pattern of demand seen in 2015, with output and orders shifting in and out of contraction. The November fall also suggests that activity over the final quarter of the year may well decelerate barring a bounceback in December.
The Pending Home Sales Index, inched 0.2% to 107.7 in October from an upwardly revised 107.5 in September and is now 3.9 percent above October 2014 (103.7). Increase by 1.6% was predicted. The index has increased year-over-year for 14 consecutive months.
Euro is currently being traded few points below 1.0570 level, Sterling is around 1.5010 handle, while Aussie is above 0.7220 area.