Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C. 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Lots of economic dockets and events scheduled for today and some with very high volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- Australia: Consumer inflation expectations rose to 3.4 percent in December. Unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7 percent in November. Fulltime employment rose by 39,300, while part time employment declined by 200.
- Japan: Nikkei manufacturing PMI in December came at 51.9.
- China: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose by 3.9 percent y/y in China.
Upcoming:
- France: Markit flash manufacturing and services PMI will be released at 8:00 GMT.
- Germany: Markit flash manufacturing and services PMI will be reported at 8:30 GMT.
- Switzerland: SNB will announce interest rate decision at 8:30 GMT.
- Eurozone: Flash manufacturing and services PMI will be reported at 9:00 GMT.
- United Kingdom: Retail sales report for November will be released at 9:30 GMT. BoE will announce interest rate decision at 12:00 GMT.
- Greece: Third quarter unemployment report will be released at 10:00 GMT.
- United States: New York empire state manufacturing index for December will be released at 13:30 GMT, along with weekly jobless claims, consumer price inflation numbers, and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey for December. Markit manufacturing PMI will be reported at 14:45 GMT. NAHB housing market index for December will be reported at 15:00 GMT. EIA will release weekly natural gas inventory report will be released at 15:30 GMT.
- New Zealand: Current account details for third quarter will be released at 21:45 GMT.
