AUD is the strongest. USD is the weakest
As North American traders enter for the trading day, the AUD is the strongest currency while the USD is the weakest.
The greenback moved lower against all currencies in the Asian Pacific session (delayed reaction to the FOMC minutes?), and has stalled/consolidated in the European session. Nevertheless, currency pairs like the EURUSD and the USDJPY are trading at extreme levels as NY traders enter.
European equities are higher. The US equity markets are pointing toward modest gains in pre-market trading. Oil prices (Dec) are at 40.35- down 1% and Gold is up +0.3%.
European bonds are a basis point lower for most of the run (German bund down 1 bp, Greece is the exception at +4 bp). The US treasuries show the 10 year yield down 2 bps.
Canada wholesales inventories (+0.2% est) at 8:30 AM
US employment claims (272 est. vs 276K last) at 8:30 AMPhilly Fed Index (Empire Mfg was weaker earlier this week). Estimate 0.1 vs -4.5 last month. At 10 AMConference Board Leading index (Est +0.5% vs -0.2%) At 10 AMBoC Review at 10:30 AM ETFeds Lockhart at 12:30 PM ETFeds Fischer at 4:45 PM ET
PS Feds Meister will be on an exclusive interview on CNBC in a few minutes
