Hot Features
Premium
Trade like a pro: Leverage real-time discussions and market-moving ideas to outperform.
The key points from today’s economic news, brought to you by Guardian Stockbrokers.
UK ILO unemployment rate surprisingly fell in the September-November 2018 period
The ILO unemployment rate in the UK unexpectedly fell to 4.00% in the September-November 2018 period, compared to a rate of 4.10% in the August-October 2018 period. Markets were expecting the ILO unemployment rate to record a steady reading.
German current situation index dropped in January
The ZEW current situation index in Germany fell to a level of 27.60 in January, compared to market expectations of a drop to a reading of 43.30. The index had recorded a reading of 45.30 in the previous month.
German economic sentiment index unexpectedly rose in January
The ZEW economic sentiment index in Germany registered an unexpected rise to a level of -15.00 in January, compared to market expectations of a fall to a reading of -18.50. In the previous month, the index had recorded a reading of -17.50.
US existing home sales eased in December
In the US, existing home sales fell 6.40%, to a level of 4.99 million on MoM basis, in December, compared to market expectations of 5.24 million. Existing home sales had recorded a revised reading of 5.33 million in the previous month.
BoJ maintained its key interest rate
The Bank of Japan (BoJ), at its latest policy meeting, left its key short-term interest rate steady at -0.10% and reiterated its plans of purchasing Japanese government bonds to maintain yield on 10-year note at 0%. However, the central bank slashed its inflation forecast to 0.9% from 1.4% for the year ending March 2019, citing slowdown in the global demand.
Click here to sign up for the in depth Guardian Stockbrokers Market Daily report.
