The JPY is the strongest & GBP is the weakest to start the last session of 2022 in NA

To start the last trading session in 2022, the JPY is the strongest of the major currencies while the GBP is the weakest. The USD is mixed.

The JPY has restarted its upward bias after correcting from the December 19 low. The price peaked near the swing lows from December 13 and 14th at the end of the day on Wednesday and into the early Asian session yesterday (see chart below). The USDJPY moved back below the 200 hour moving average and the 100 hour moving average (green and blue lines). Stay below is moving averages is more bearish. The momentum lower has intensified today.

US stocks are lower which is probably apropos given the sharp declines seen this year - especially the Nasdaq index which has tumbled over 33% this year. US yields are higher to start the day.

A look around the markets shows:

• spot gold is up $4.50 or 0.26% at $1819
• spot silver is up six cents or 0.28% at $23.94
• Bitcoin is trading at $16,461. The high price reached the $16,639. The low price reached $16,432 today
• WTI crude oil Crude Oil Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, Read this Term is trading down $0.21 at $78.19

in the premarket for US stocks, the major indices are lower after yesterday's sharp move higher:

• Dow Industrial Average is trading down 153 points after yesterday's 345.09 point rise
• S&P index is trending down 27.5 points after yesterday's 66.04 point rise
• NASDAQ NASDAQ The Nasdaq Stock Market or NASDAQ is an American stock exchange. It trails only the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in market capitalization and is part of a network of stock markets and options exchanges.Launched back in 1971, NASDAQ is the acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Since then it is known simply as NASDAQ and has become one of the most influential exchanges worldwide.The NASDAQ was the world’s first electronic stock market, and has since ass The Nasdaq Stock Market or NASDAQ is an American stock exchange. It trails only the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in market capitalization and is part of a network of stock markets and options exchanges.Launched back in 1971, NASDAQ is the acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Since then it is known simply as NASDAQ and has become one of the most influential exchanges worldwide.The NASDAQ was the world’s first electronic stock market, and has since ass Read this Term index is down 118 points after yesterday's 264.80 point rise

In the European equity markets, the benchmark indices are lower. The German and UK markets are closed for the year.

• German DAX, -1.05%
• France CAC, -0.85%
• UK FTSE 100 -0.81%
• Spain's Ibex -0.72%
• Italy's FTSE MIB - 0.8%

The German DAX is down -12.35% in 2022 which is the worst performance since 2018 when the index fell -18.26%. The UK FTSE 100 bucked the trend, and closed higher by 0.91% in 2022. The UK FTSE 250 was not so lucky with a -19.5% decline - its worst since 2008.

In the US debt market, yields are higher:

• two year 4.409%, +4.2 basis points
• five year 3.998% +4.4 basis points
• 10 year 3.874% +4.0 basis points
• 30 year 3.956% +3.4 basis points