International Economic
Bitcoin slows after five-day rally but investors feel "far more confident"
The cryptocurrency market is dropping on Wednesday, after an impressive five-day rally that has led Bitcoin (BTC) to set more than one-month highs above $45,000, an important resistance level in December. The digital currency par excellence has been unable to continue its bull run and selling has come in strong at this price level, leading to pullbacks below $43,000, a price level where a consolidation move is expected, despite the February 8th close at $44,100.
Morgan Stanley expecs continued EU stock outperformance, FTSE among preferred investments
Equity strategists at Morgan Stanley told clients that they expected European Union stocks to continue outperforming, given what they described as a "benign" macroeconomic backdrop.
US December trade deficit falls a tad short of forecasts
America's shortfall on trade with the rest of the world widened by less than expected at the end of 2021.
US small business confidence drops to 11 month low
US small business confidence fell to an 11-month low in January, according to the National Federation of Independent Business, as ongoing worker shortages and increased prices for raw materials weighed on sentiment.
The reasons for Bitcoin's rally that encourages bulls after January's crash
Bitcoin bulls finally won the day thanks to a closing of the first week of February above $42,000, that gives them ammunition to continue battling and extend the rises to the next level of resistance at $45,000. The upswing of the last four days has not lost steam and has erased the bad sensations of several weeks of falls, while the most optimistic are already looking at $60,000.
Immune system creates neutralising antibodies against Omicron after three exposures
German scientists have shown that the human immune system creates an abundant amount of high quality antibodies capable of neutralising Omicron once it has encountered the virus's spike protein three times.
Russia using gas exports for leverage on Ukraine dispute - EU chief
The European Union is in discussions with the US and other potential suppliers about securing more gas deliveries to Europe in the face of “growing evidence” Russia is using exports as political leverage, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Eurozone investor sentiment improves as Covid cases fall
Investor sentiment strengthened across the Eurozone in February, a closely-watched survey showed, beating expectations.
Bitcoin performs a three-day rally and targets $43,000; what to expect now?
The immense volatility to which Bitcoin accustomed us has fallen on the side of the bulls, who are pushing the price of the crypto-asset above the resistance in the $40,000 - $42,000 area. Monday's high is already touching $43,000, a change not seen since the beginning of January, which translates into three days of rally for the most traded of the digital currencies and all eyes are on $45,000 as the next target.
Construction and energy output drag on German industrial production in December
Industrial output in the euro area's largest economy fell short of economists' forecasts by a touch, but core manufacturing fared considerably better.
January nonfarm payroll numbers surprise to the upside
The US economy unexpectedly added 467,000 payrolls in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, much better than analysts' expectations for a print of 150,000.
BoA strategists 'bearish', expect 'growth shock' in back half 2022
Equity strategists at Bank of America declared themselves to be "bearish" on equities, arguing that the 2021 inflation shock would reverberate in 2022 via an interest rate shock in the first half of the year followed by a "growth shock" in the back half of the same year.
German factory orders rise more than expected in December
German factory orders rose much more than expected in December, with domestic demand driving growth, according to figures released on Friday by Destatis.
Bitcoin´s price rises again but is "not done with its corrective phase"
The cryptocurrency market is back in the green, despite the falls on Wall Street and the tightening of the monetary policy of central banks, that was evident after the Bank of England raised rates and reduced purchases on Thursday, and the European Central Bank, when even the latter indicated a 'hawkish' turn. However, rises in some US tech stocks, such as Amazony Snap encouraged digital currencies, which remain closely correlated with the rest of the financial markets.
Governing council 'will not be rushed' into interest rate hikes, ECB chief says
The European Central Bank will not be rushed into interest rate hikes and observers shouldn't overdo it when speculating on possible hikes.
US initial jobless claims hit three-week low
New first-time jobless claims fell by 23,000 to 238,000 in the week ended 29 January, according to the Labor Department, for the lowest reading in three weeks and below economists' expectations for a print of 245,000.
US unit labour costs miss forecasts in Q4, labour productivity beats
Unit labour costs in the US undershot economists' forecasts by a wide margin at the end of 2021 as productivity growth surged.
ECB stays put, PEPP still set to end in March
The European Central Bank kept all its main policy levers at their current settings following Thursday's meeting of its governing council.
Euro area services slowed a bit more quickly than expected in January, survey shows
Services sector activity in the single currency area slowed further at the start of 2022 due to the drag from rising numbers of Omicron cases, the revised results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
Bitcoin is in the red again: Is it a mirage that the price will reach $40,000?
Bitcoin was unable to extend its rebound to the $40,000 target on Wednesday and fell by 4%, in the heat of the collapse of the technology sector on Wall Street in the after hours market. Meta's (Facebook) results released after it ended by disappointing the market and the social network extended trading in the US down nearly 23%. The cryptocurrency market in general is tinged with red after this week's rally and the 'altcoins' give up around 5% on average.