Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Lee Seung-heon Signals Caution on Rate Hikes, Supports Higher Property Taxes to Cool Korea’s Housing Market 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
While the United Kingdom has been surprising the markets, economist and the doomsayers with continued resilience after the referendum in June, on the other side of the world the United States’ economic performance has taken a slide compared to the prevalence expectations. Citi’s UK economic surprise index has reached the highest level in almost three years but the economic surprise index in the United States has taken a downturn since July.
Though, two central banks are on a different path of monetary policy. The Bank of England (BoE) has recently unveiled a fresh package of stimulus measures, whereas the Federal Reserve is looking to hike interest rates. With economic surprises diverging, the market expectations of the monetary policy divergence are likely to slide and provide support to the GBP/USD exchange rate and even lead to a recovery.
The pound is currently trading at 1.323 against the dollar, a break above 1.34 are could push the pair towards 1.38
