Friday's session was marked by Australian Trade Balance data. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover was relatively unchanged in December 2015, missing forecasts on 0.5% increase and following a rise of 0.4% in November 2015, seasonally adjusted. In seasonally adjusted terms there were rises in food retailing clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing and department stores. Household goods retailing, other retailing and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services fell in December 2015.
In the US session
NFP and Trade Balance figures were released. Job growth settled into a more sustainable pace in January and the
unemployment rate dropped to an almost eight-year low of 4.9 percent, signs of a resilient labor market that’s causing wage growth to stir. The 151,000 advance in payrolls, while less than forecast, largely reflected payback for a seasonal hiring pickup in the final two months of 2015, Labor Department figures showed Friday.
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the goods and services deficit was $43.4 billion in December, up $1.1 billion from $42.2 billion in November, revised. December exports were $181.5 billion, $0.5 billion less than November exports. December imports were $224.9 billion, up $0.6 billion from November. The December increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $1.3 billion to $62.5 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $19.2 billion.
There will be no major data releases both from Australia and USA on Monday, so we can expect a bit steadier session so we can expect a less volatile beginning of the week.
