ECB Signals Steady Interest Rates as Fed Risks Loom Over Outlook 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Tech and AI Stocks Drag Wall Street Ahead of Key Earnings 
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C. 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Japan Declines Comment on BOJ’s Absence From Global Support Statement for Fed Chair Powell. Source: Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
Australia’s Corporate Regulator Urges Pension Funds to Boost Technology Investment as Industry Grows 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Dollar Steady as Fed Nomination and Japanese Election Shape Currency Markets 
Lots of economic dockets and events scheduled for today and some with very high volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- Australia: New motor vehicle sales declined by 0.6 percent in November, down 1.1 percent from a year ago.
- Japan: Industrial production registered no growth in October, down 1.4 percent from a year ago.
Upcoming:
- France: Consumer price inflation for November will be released at 7:45 GMT.
- Eurozone: ECB would hold non-monetary policy today. Industrial production numbers for October will be released at 10:00 GMT.
- Switzerland: Producer price inflation numbers for November will be released at 8:15 GMT. ZEW survey report will be released at 10:00 GMT.
- Italy: Consumer price inflation numbers for November will be released at 9:00 GMT.
- United Kingdom: unemployment report will be released at 9:30 GMT. BoE governor Carney is scheduled to speak at 12:15 GMT.
- United States: MBA mortgage application data will be reported at 12:00 GMT, followed by retail sales report and producer price inflation numbers at 13:30 GMT. Industrial production data for November will be announced at 14:15 GMT. EIA will release its weekly inventory report at 15:30 GMT. FOMC will announce interest rate decision at 19:00 GMT.
- New Zealand: Business PMI number will be reported at 21:45 GMT.
