- US Oct retail sales weaker than expected
- FOMC Minutes: say a number favored more QE after Op Twist
- US Oct PPI 2.3% y/y vs 2.6% exp
- US Sept business inventories +0.7% vs +0.6% exp
- Israel assassinates Hamas military leader, launches offensive
- Oil up $1 to $86.30 after attack
- Ireland raises 2012 GDP forecast, cuts 2013 and 2014
- EU’s Olli Rehn says no further action from Spain necessary at this time
- EU won’t take final decision on Greek aid until next week
- Pelosi to stay as Democratic House leader
- Fitch: US credit card delinquencies rise for first time in a year
- EUR leads, JPY lags
The market shook off the soft retail sales numbers at first but after the missile attacks in Israel, it was ‘risk off’. Once again, however, the FX market dismissed the stock market, aside from AUD and NZD.
If you told me at the start of the day that the S&P 500 would fall 20 points and that EUR/JPY would be the best performer, I wouldn’t have believed you.
The euro squeezed above 1.2755 to 1.2780 after the FOMC minutes hinted at more bond buying after Operation Twist but the move lasted mere moments and spot is at 1.2735. An earlier spike came on speculation Rehn would push Spain to take the OMT.
Cable fell below the 200-day moving average for the first time since early September.
