International Economic
Thursday preview: US data, Fedspeak in focus
The market spotlight on Thursday was expected to continue to be on US and the Federal Reserve.
US tech layoffs running at highest level since 2015, Challenger says
Layoff announcements among US technology firms reached their highest monthly level for seven years following Microsoft's announcement earlier in the day that it would shed 10,000 employees, a top staffing agency said.
Fed's Bullard argues in favour of continuing 'rapid' rate hikes
A top US central bank official argued in favour of hiking interest rates by 50 basis points at its next meeting to ensure that inflation would fall back to the monetary authority's 2. 0% target.
Monthly US retail sales miss forecasts by wide margin
US retail sales softened by much more than expected towards the end of the previous year.
Unexpected weakness in US industrial production as business equipment output falls
Industrial output weakened noticeably at the tail-end of 2022 as production of business equipment fell sharply.
US homebuilder confidence may have hit bottom in December, NAHB says
Homebuilder confidence in the US may have hit bottom at the end of the previous year thanks to a "modest" decline in interest rates, a leading business lobby group said.
US producer prices undershoot forecasts in December
Wholesale prices undershot market expectations by a wide margin at the end of 2022.
Eurozone inflation eases in December, in line with flash estimate
Consumer price inflation in the eurozone eased in December, according to figures released on Wednesday by Eurostat, in line with an earlier flash estimate.
Cryptocurrencies are not slowing down; Bitcoin consolidates at $21,200
The cryptocurrency market is not slowing down and is approaching a total capitalization of $1 trillion. Bitcoin (BTC) rallies 0. 6% in the last 24 hours and consolidates at $21,200; in the last week, the reigning cryptocurrency has appreciated by more than 20%. For its part, Ethereum (ETH) has risen 1% and is eyeing $1,600.
BoJ suprises markets and holds on yield curve controls
The Bank of Japan surprised markets on Wednesday and left its yield curve control (YCC) measures unchanged as it maintained its cheap-money policy, sparking a surge in equities, but sending the domestic currency lower.