ISM Manufacturing PMI increased to 59.7

The December PMI registered 59.7 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the November reading of 58.2 percent. The New Orders Index registered 69.4 percent, an increase of 5.4 percentage points from the November reading of 64 percent. The Production Index registered 65.8 percent, a 1.9 percentage point increase compared to the November reading of 63.9 percent. The Employment Index registered 57 percent, a decrease of 2.7 percentage points from the November reading of 59.7 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 57.9 percent, a 1.4 percentage point increase from the November reading of 56.5 percent. The Inventories Index registered 48.5 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the November reading of 47 percent.

US Manufacturing PMI up to 55.1

December data indicated a marked improvement in US manufacturing operating conditions. The latest upturn was supported by faster increases in output and new orders, amid reports of greater client demand. In line with stronger production growth, employment rose further and at the fastest pace since September 2014. Backlogs meanwhile increased at the quickest rate since October 2015 to indicate ongoing capacity pressures. Supply chain delays and increased global demand for inputs pushed costs up further, with the rate of cost inflation remaining sharp overall.

USD - Major events in the week ahead

Events that marked the week:

On Wednesday CB Consumer Sentiment and Pending Home Sales figures were released. Consumer confidence fell in December, a month after hitting a 17-year high, but the level of optimism among Americans this year was the highest since 2000. The index slipped to 122.1 this month from a revised 128.6 in November, the Conference Board said Wednesday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast the index to read 127.5. Americans were a little less confident in their outlook for jobs and business conditions. An index that measures future conditions dipped to 99.1 from 111.

Chicago PMI rose to 67.6

The MNI Chicago Business Barometer rose to 67.6 in December, up from 63.9 in November, closing the year at the highest level since March 2011. On a calendar quarter basis, the Barometer rose to 65.9 in Q4 from 61.0 in Q3, the best quarterly performance since Q1 2011, only the second time in the last decade there have been three consecutive above-60 readings in the Oct-Dec period.