Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Lots of economic dockets and events scheduled for today and some with high volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- United Kingdom: BRC retail sales grew 1.7 percent in September from ayear ago.
- Australia: National Australia bank’s business confidence marginally declined to 4 from 6 and business conditions declined from 8 to 6.
- China: Trade balance for October came at $49 billion. Imports declined 1.4 percent y/y and exports declined 7.3 percent y/y.
- Japan: Leading economic index marginally declined to 100.5 and coincident index rose to 112.1
Upcoming:
- Switzerland: Unemployment report for October will be released at 6:45 GMT.
- Germany: Industrial production report for September will be released at 7:00 GMT, along with trade balance report.
- France: Trade balance report for September will be published at 7:45 GMT.
- United Kingdom: Manufacturing and industrial production report for September will be released at 9:30 GMT, followed by inflation report hearings at 10:00 GMT. NIESR will release its GDP estimate at 15:00 GMT.
- United States: NFIB Business optimism index will be published at 11:00 GMT, followed by JOLTS jobs report at 15:00 GMT. Fed’s Evans is scheduled to speak at 17:20 GMT.
- New Zealand: Electronic card retail sales will be reported at 21:45 GMT.
- Australia: Westpac consumer confidence for November will be released at 23:30 GMT.
- Japan: trade balance report for September will be published at 23:50 GMT.
- Auction: US will auction 1-month and 12-month bills at 16:30 GMT and 3-year note at 18:00 GMT.
