From the UK, yesterday, Trade Balance figures were released. The UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services was estimated to have been £2.7 billion in December 2015, a narrowing of £1.3 billion from November 2015. The narrowing is attributed to trade in goods where the deficit has narrowed from £11.5 billion in November 2015, to £9.9 billion in December 2015. Analysts were predicting deficit of £10.4 billion. Between November 2015 and December 2015, the trade in goods narrowing was mainly the result of a fall in the import of goods of £1.7 billion to £33.0 billion; mainly reflecting a fall in imports of unspecified goods, which decreased by £1.0 billion to £0.4 billion.
In the US session
JOLTS Job Openings data was published.
Job openings rose to 5.6 million in December. The job openings rate was 3.8 percent. The number of job openings increased in December for total private and was little changed for government. Job openings increased in construction (+69,000), nondurable goods manufacturing (+60,000), and durable goods manufacturing (+26,000). In the regions, job openings increased in the West over the month.
Tomorrow's session will bring UK Industrial Production data. Analysts are predicting decrease by 0.1%. In the US session Janet Yellen is due to testify on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report before the House Financial Services Committee, in Washington DC, which should bring some volatility to the markets.
Figures to watch:
Industrial Production (Wednesday 10:30)
Fed Chair Yellen Testifies (Wednesday 16:00)