Weekly Strength for the Greenback
The dollar index rose for a fourth consecutive session, confirming its place above the 91 handle.
ADP figures showed that the US private sector increased by 174,000 jobs in January after shedding 78,000 in the prior month.
However, concerns remain in full force as economists warned a job market recovery is still a long way off.
Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are moving ahead with plans to pass a $1.9tn economic relief plan.
This decision is without significant support from Republican lawmakers, which could damage the bipartisanship pledged by the new administration after only two weeks in office.
Eurozone Inflation Back in Positive Territory
The euro fell 0.10% lower on Wednesday as it flirted with the 1.20 level.
After being in negative territory for the back end of 2020, consumer inflation jumped by much more than expected in January.
However, the ECB’s target of 2% inflation seems a long way off, as economists are predicting that core inflation will be stuck around 1% for the foreseeable future.
UK Passes Pandemic Peak
Sterling closed 0.20% lower yesterday as traders now look towards the 1.36 level.
PMI data pointed to the sharpest contraction in the services sector since May of 2020.
The impact of restrictions on trade and temporary business closures during the third national lockdown was the main factor.
This comes despite the UK apparently passing the peak in the current wave of the pandemic.
However, any hope of lifting restrictions was dashed by the Prime Minister, as he stated that infection levels were still very high.
Indices Open with Mixed Results
The major US indices closed indecisively on Wednesday as the Nasdaq led the way closing 0.55% higher. The Dow, however, ended the session 0.24 lower.
Shares of Google parent Alphabet hit new highs yesterday, rising nearly 8% after the company reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analysts’ expectations.
It seems this earnings season keeps on giving.
Gold on the Decline
Gold closed 0.22% yesterday as it spends the majority of the week on the back foot.
A strong US dollar, combined with an upbeat tone to risk appetite that has seen stocks and crude oil make further upward strides, are both hurting demand for the yellow metal.
In addition, risk appetite continues to shift on mass vaccination headlines, and new data suggests encouragingly strong levels of efficacy amongst existing vaccine candidates.
Oil at Highest Level Since the Pandemic Began
WTI moved 1.61% higher yesterday, confirming a fourth consecutive rise for the black gold.
Upbeat data from the EIA showed that crude inventories fell by 1 million barrels last week.
In addition, the Administration expects total US energy consumption to return to 2019 levels by 2029, but also said that forecast is highly dependent on the pace of the economic recovery.
Will we now see a push for $60?
