Crude Oil Inventories increased by 2.2 million barrels

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 2.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 457.1 millionbarrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are in the upper half of the average range for this timeof year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased 3.3 million barrels last week, and arein the lower half of the average range.

U.S. Job Openings at 6.1 million

On the last business day of September, there were 6.1 million job openings, little changed from August. Job openings have been at or near record high levels since June. The job openings rate was 4.0 percent in September. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and for government. Job openings increased in professional and business services (+156,000), other services (+52,000), state and local government education (+36,000), and federal government (+15,000).

USD - Major events in the week ahead

Events that marked the week:

On Tuesday, CB Consumer Confidence figures were released. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved marginally in September (an upward revision), increased again in October. The Index now stands at 125.9 (1985=100), up from 120.6 in September. The Present Situation Index increased from 146.9 to 151.1, while the Expectations Index rose from 103.0 last month to 109.1. "Consumer confidence increased to its highest level in almost 17 years (Dec. 2000, 128.6) in October after remaining relatively flat in September," said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board.

Non-Manufacturing PMI inclined to 60.1

The NMI® registered 60.1 percent, which is 0.3 percentage point higher than the September reading of 59.8 percent. This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slightly faster rate. This is the highest NMI reading since the index’s debut in 2008. The highest reading among pre-2008 composite index calculations is 61.3 percent in August 2005.