Forex Signals Brief December 4: FED Blackout Period Before the FOMC Meeting

Last week we had the services and manufacturing reports which showed mixed results around the globe. There was an improvement in the Eurozone and the UK during November, while in China and the US the activity softened further. Although the US Q3 GDP report was revised higher, as was the GDP Price Index. But that’s not the favourite inflation measure of the FED. The PCE price index is and it showed another slowdown for last month, which kept the USD soft throughout the week.

We heard some hawkish comments by FED members, but markets focused more on the dovish remarks, and the USD continued to decline all week, apart from Thursday when buyers attempted a reversal higher but failed and on Friday the selloff resumed again. The Eurozone CPI inflation figures also showed a slowdown, that’s the reason the Euro was the second weakest currency last week.

Elsewhere, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept interest rates unchanged at 5.50%, while inflation in Australia slowed. But, commodity currencies remained bullish on talk of more Chinese stimulus, including the Canadian Dollar, despite the increase in the unemployment rate in Canada, as the employment report released on Friday showed.

This Week’s Market Expectations

The FOMC meeting is scheduled for next week, which means that we won’t get any more comments by FED members until then, although most traders know the FED is very unlikely to raise interest rates again from the 5.50% which is currently. This week the Reserve Bank of Australia will hold the monthly meeting, but they’re also expected to keep rates unchanged at 5.50%. Although markets will be concentrated mostly on the US employment numbers to see how strong the labour market is.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Monday: Switzerland CPI inflation
  • Tuesday: China Caixin Services PMI, RBA Policy Meeting, Eurozone PPI producer inflation, Canada Services PMI, US ISM Services PMI, US Job Openings
  • Wednesday: Australia GDP, Eurozone Retail Sales, US ADP, BoC Policy Meeting
  • Thursday: China Trade data, Switzerland Unemployment Rate, US Challenger Job Cuts, US Jobless Claims
  • Friday: Japan Wage data, US NFP, University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment
Check out our free forex signals
Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Avatar
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.
Related Articles
Comments
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments