From the UK, yesterday, GDP data was released. UK GDP in volume terms was estimated to have increased by 0.5% between Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2015 and Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2015, unrevised from the preliminary estimate of GDP published on 28 January 2016. Between 2014 and 2015, GDP in volume terms increased by 2.2%, unrevised from the previous estimate. Between Quarter 4 2014 and Quarter 4 2015, GDP in volume terms increased by 1.9%, unrevised from the previously published estimate.
In the US session
Durable Goods Orders and
Unemployment Claims figures were published. Orders for U.S. capital goods rebounded in January by the most since June 2014, representing a pause in manufacturing’s downturn. Bookings for non-military equipment excluding commercial aircraft jumped 3.9%, more than forecast, after a 3.7% decrease in December that was smaller than previously reported, data from the Commerce Department showed Thursday.
Orders for all durable goods rose 4.9%, the most since March. Analysts were anticipating 3.0% increase.
In the week ending February 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 272,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 262,000, in line with market forecasts. The 4-week moving average was 272,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 273,250.
There will be no data releases from the UK tomorrow. In the US session GDP and Revised Consumer Confidence figures will be released. Analysts predict increase to by 0.4% in GDP, while Revised Consumer Confidence should show slight incline from Prelim reading to 91.1.
Figures to watch:
Prelim GDP (Friday 14:30)
Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 16:00)
