Dollar Steady as Fed Nomination and Japanese Election Shape Currency Markets 
US-India Trade Bombshell: Tariffs Slashed to 18% — Rupee Soars, Sensex Explodes 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Stabilizes, Yen Weakens Ahead of Japan Election 
Japan Services Sector Records Fastest Growth in Nearly a Year as Private Activity Accelerates 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Tech and AI Stocks Drag Wall Street Ahead of Key Earnings 
Oil Prices Climb as Middle East Tensions and U.S. Inventory Data Boost Market Sentiment 
The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index increased more than expected in September, showing some modest acceleration in the pace of house price gains. Home prices were up 0.6% m/m, and the y/y rate increased to 5.5% (previous 5.1%). The rise was broad-based. Prices were up or flat in 19 of 20 major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
In the Chicago MSA, house prices fell a very modest 0.02%. Despite today's increase, house price appreciation seems to have stabilized recently, with all three of the major house price indexes showing steady y/y increases of close to 5% since mid-2014.
"We expect solid employment growth and modest wage increases to continue to support the housing market. We see ongoing gradual increases in house prices, a steady rise in residential construction, and further gains in new and existing home sales", says Barclays.
