US Jobless Claims Hit Low as UK Retail Sales Decline: What’s Next for Markets?

US Jobless Claims Hit Low as UK Retail Sales Decline

This week’s market updates bring a mix of data and central bank commentary, shaping trends in major currencies. Here’s what you need to know.

US Jobless Claims at Six-Month Low

The latest US weekly initial jobless claims dropped to 213,000, outperforming expectations of 220,000 and marking a six-month low. This positive labour market data highlights the resilience of the US economy.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials, including Collins, Bowman, and Williams, reiterated their preference for a gradual and cautious approach to cutting interest rates, a stance that could influence USD movements in the coming months.

Eurozone Confidence Dips and ECB Turns Dovish

In the Eurozone, consumer confidence slipped to -13.7 in November, slightly worse than the forecast of -12.4. At the same time, European Central Bank policymakers leaned towards a more dovish outlook in their latest remarks, suggesting a softer stance on monetary policy.

Sterling Under Pressure After UK Retail Sales Fall

The UK saw an unexpected decline in retail sales for October, with figures showing a 0.7% month-on-month drop. This news pushed Sterling lower against the Euro, though it remains stable against the US Dollar.

With weak retail sales adding to concerns about the UK economy, market participants are closely watching for signals of how the Bank of England might respond.

Event Risk: Flash PMIs in Focus

Later today, attention will turn to November’s flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) releases for the Eurozone, UK, and US. These reports could provide further clarity on economic performance and create event risk for currency markets.

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