Market Update

The United States National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) declined by four points in December to a reading of 86, compared with 90 in November. However, this is the second-highest level on record for the index. It is worth noting that any reading above 50 indicates …

Retail sales in the United States declined by more than expected during November, data by the US Department of Commerce showed on Wednesday. Last month, retail sales decreased by 1.1%, while the October reading was revised down to show a decline of 0.1% instead of an increase of 0.3% as …

European stocks closed higher on Wednesday, supported by an improved investors’ sentiment regarding the rollout of new Coronavirus vaccines. The pan-European STOXX 600 index finished higher by 0.8%, supported by gains by the majority of market sectors, except for the baking stocks, with the insurance index heading the gains. The …

Oil prices rose today, Wednesday, due to the decline of the dollar and the progress in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, but the gains were limited due to a sudden increase in crude oil inventories in the United States and the tightening of measures to combat Coronavirus in Europe. Brent …

Data revealed that the Eurozone’s unadjusted trade surplus jumped year on year in October as exports performed better than imports amid the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union statistics office said the commodity trade surplus in 19 countries in the Eurozone amounted to 30.0 billion euros, …

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, December 16, due to a sudden increase in crude oil inventories in the United States and due to continuing investor concerns about the decline in fuel demand in light of tightening public isolation measures in Europe to combat the virus pandemic. Brent crude futures fell …

The UK manufacturing and services sector activities showed mixed performance in December, the preliminary report from IHS Markit showed this Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) jumped to a 37-month high level of 57.3 in December. The reading surpassed consensus estimates pointing to a …

The Eurozone flash Manufacturing PMI arrived at 55.5 in December compared to 53 expected, while the Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 47.3 in December, compared to 41.9 expected.

The American Petroleum Institute data said Tuesday that inventories of crude oil, gasoline and distillates in the United States increased at the fastest pace in the latest week. Crude inventories rose by 2 million barrels in the week ending on December 11, to about 495 million, compared with analysts’ expectations …

Gold prices rose on Wednesday, December 16th, to their highest level in a week, as the yellow metal was based on a rise in the previous session thanks to hopes for more US stimulus, while investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1854.51 an …