Market Update

Business activity in the United States expanded during January, data showed on Friday. The IHS Markit flash U.S. composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reached its highest level in two months at 58 this month, up from 55.3 in December. The Flash U.S. Services Business Activity Index also went up to …

Existing home sales in the United States rose last month, data by the National Association of Realtors showed on Friday. Home sales grew by 0.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.76 million units during December, against market expectations of a decline. Home resales rose by 22.2% on an …

US President Joe Biden said Thursday, January 21, that the total number of Covid-19 deaths in his country will likely exceed half a million next month, painting a grim picture of what he said will be a fierce battle. Biden added in a meeting at the White House that the …

Official data revealed that British retailers struggled to recover in December from partial lockdown measures the previous month, marking a weak end to their worst year on record, while public borrowing rose to its highest levels since 1962. These numbers bode poorly for Britain’s economy in early 2021, as it …

The UK manufacturing and services sector activities declined in January, the preliminary report from IHS Markit showed on Friday. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) hit a seven-month low of 52.9 in January versus 54.0 expected and 57.5 – December’s final reading.

The dollar settled in a cautious Asian session on Friday, January 22nd, but it is heading towards its worst weekly performance since the start of the year as investors welcome Joe Biden’s management by buying higher-risk assets. Against the Japanese currency, the dollar has fallen 0.3% this week and retreated …

Gold fell on Friday, January 22nd as US Treasury yields rose, but the yellow metal is on track to record its best weekly performance in five weeks, supported by hopes of a major stimulus in the United States. Gold fell in immediate transactions 0.6% to 1859.10 dollars an ounce, retreating …

European stocks fell on Friday, January 22nd, hit by tightening travel restrictions in the euro area and weak UK retail sales data, as investors awaited the latest batch of business activity data to gauge the pace of the coronavirus recovery. The European Stoxx600 index fell 0.4%, but is heading for …

The German manufacturing sector expanded less-than-expected in January, the preliminary manufacturing activity report from IHS/Markit research showed this Friday. Meanwhile, Services PMI contracted to 46.8 in January vs. 47.0 last month and 45.3 expected. The index hit a two-month low.

The Eurozone manufacturing sector activity slowed this month, although bettered the consensus forecast, the latest manufacturing activity survey from IHS/Markit research showed on Friday. The Eurozone Manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) improved from 55.2 in December to in January and over 54.6 expected. The IHS Markit Eurozone PMI Composite arrived …