Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
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.
