Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C. 
Markets React as Tensions Rise Between White House and Federal Reserve Over Interest Rate Pressure 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
China Holds Loan Prime Rates Steady in January as Market Expectations Align 
New York Fed President John Williams Signals Rate Hold as Economy Seen Strong in 2026 
Lots of economic data and events scheduled for today, and some with high volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- Australia: Consumer inflation expectation declined to 3.6 percent in November, down from 4 percent in October. The unemployment rate unchanged at 5 percent in October, despite a 0.2 percent increase in the participation rate as the economy added 32,800 new jobs in the month.
- China: House price index rose to 8.6 percent y/y in October.
Upcoming:
- United Kingdom: Retail sales report will be released at 9:30 GMT. MPC member Tenreyro is set for a speech at 13:00 GMT.
- Eurozone: September trade balance report will be released at 10:00 GMT. ECB’s Praet is set for a speech at 13:10 GMT.
- United States: NY empire state manufacturing report will be released at 13:30 GMT, along with retail sales report, weekly jobless claims report, terms of trade report, and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing report. EIA will release weekly natural gas inventory report 15:30 GMT, followed by oil inventory report at 16:00 GMT. Fed’s Powell is set for a speech at 16:30 GMT, and Bostic at 18:00 GMT.
- New Zealand: Business PMI report will be released at 21:30 GMT.
