On Thursday, from Australia, only Private Sector Credit data was released. Report showed 0.4% increase, missing forecasts on 0.6% rise. Also, markets were closed early this morning as New Year approaches, and will not be reopened until Monday. “Both the Australian and New Zealand dollar have risen strongly overnight in concert with the return of a risk-on theme witnessed in offshore markets,” The Wall Street Journal quoted Simon Fletcher who is a senior credit analyst at National Australia Bank in Sydney.
In the US session
Unemployment Claims and Chicago
PMI figures were released.In the week ending December 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted
initial claims was 287,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 267,000. Analysts were anticipating increase to 274,000. The 4-week moving average was 277,000, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 272,500.
The Chicago Business Barometer contracted at the fastest pace since July 2009, falling 5.8 points to 42.9 in December from 48.7 in November. Analysts were predicting increase to 50.5. It has been a volatile year for the Barometer.New Orders and Production have experienced particularly large swings with businesses never recovering fully from a sharp plunge at the beginning of the year. The Barometer’s December print is 16.5 points beneath the January high of 59.4. The quarterly average declined to 49.3 in Q4, the same as in Q2 which was the weakest quarter since Q3 2009.
Following Friday's official China's Manufacturing PMI figures, on Monday, Caixin will publish its data. In the US session ISM Manufacturing PMI figures are scheduled for a release.
Figures to watch:
Caixin Manufacturing PMI (Monday 2:45)
ISM Manufacturing PMI (Monday 16:00)
