In the US session, Unemployment Claims, Final GDP and Durable Goods Orders data was published. In the week ending December 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 275,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 254,000. The 4-week moving average was 263,750, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 257,750. There were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims. This marks 94 consecutive weeks of initial claims below 300,000, the longest streak since 1970.
Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2016, according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 1.4 percent. With this third estimate for the third quarter, nonresidential fixed investment, personal consumption expenditures (PCE), and state and local government spending increased more than previously estimated, but the general picture of economic growth remains the same.
Orders for U.S. business equipment climbed more than forecast in November, a sign corporate investment is starting to firm up. Bookings for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft rose 0.9 percent, the most since August, after a 0.2 percent gain a month earlier, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a 0.4 percent increase. Demand for all durables -- items meant to last at least three years -- fell 4.6 percent on a slump in orders for planes.
From the UK, tomorrow, Current Account and Final GDP data will be released. Current Account deficit should narrow to 28.3 billion pounds. In the US session New Home Sales and Revised Consumer Sentiment figures will be published. New Home Sales are expected to increase 575,000 while Consumer Sentiment should rose to 98.2
Figures to watch:
Current Account (Friday 10:30)
Final GDP (Friday 10:30)
New Home Sales (Friday 16:00)
Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 16:00)
