Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
FxWirePro- Major Crypto levels and bias summary 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Data released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Friday that U.K. industrial production growth exceeded economists' expectations in December. U.K.'s industrial output climbed 1.1 percent month-on-month in December while manufacturing output expanded 2.1 percent. On a yearly basis, industrial and manufacturing output gained 4.3 percent and 4 percent, respectively.
Both industrial and manufacturing output expanded at a faster pace than economists had forecast. While November’s manufacturing gain had been disproportionately skewed towards an erratic surge in pharmaceutical product output, December’s data showed a more balanced performance. The manufacturing output rise in December was broad-based, with expansion in 9 out of 13 manufacturing sub-sectors.
U.K. manufacturing PMI in December hit its highest level since June 2014. Today's data suggested that the strength seen in surveys is finally being borne out in the ‘hard’ official data, bolstering optimism over the British economy. UK economy is highly reliant on the services sector to drive growth and today's data would give credence to a shift of growth away from the services sector.
"These upside surprises in hard data suggest the possibility of a mild upgrade in Q4 GDP growth estimates to 0.7 percent, from the current read of 0.6 percent. If confirmed, it would likely presage a further round of upward revisions for calendar year growth expectations in 2017 towards the Bank of England’s central view of 2.0 percent." said Lloyds Bank in a report.
Separate data showed Construction output rose 1.8 percent in December after an upwardly revised gain of 0.4 percent m/m in November. The rise was mainly driven by house building and private commercial work, the ONS said. A picture of weakness has also been revised away in the construction sector. The quarterly outturn stood at 0.2 percent q/q.
The pound erased a decline against the euro and dollar following the data. GBP was at 0.8542 against the euro and 1.2447 against the USD at 1215 GMT. Meanwhile, European stocks were trading mixed. London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.34 percent, the Euro Stoxx 50 slipped 0.02 percent, the France's CAC 40 traded up 0.22 percent, while Germany's DAX advanced 0.38 percent.
