19.03.14

Good morning,

Japanese figures released overnight have come in under their expectations for the most part. Exports for the year were below the 12.4% expected at 9.8%, while imports came in higher than the expected 7.4% at 9.0%. The leading economic indicator showed a positive reading at 113.1 up from 111.9 previously. USD/JPY was trading at 101.57 with a high of 101.63 and a low of 101.29 so far.

The NIKKEI was trading at 14462.52 up 51.25 points an increase of 0.36%

Sterling traders will be watching the news from the UK this morning closely as Bank of England vote count and meeting minutes are released, along with employment data, where the unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 7.2% CABLE was trading at 1.6605 at time of writing. Switzerland’s ZEW Survey Expectations will be released half an hour after the UK publishes, with expectations of a reading of 25.0 which would be a decrease on the previous reading of 28.7.

The FTSE100 was closed at 6605.28 up 36.93 points, an increase of 0.56%while the DAX closed at 9242.55 up 61.66 points or 0.67%

Today we see the US interest rate decision, and we will also see if the taper is set to continue under new FED chair Janet Yellen. The EUR/USD was trading at 1.3922 with a high of 1.3932 and a low of 1.3913 so far. The USD traders will likely not see much volatility until later in the session around the release of these figures mentioned. The tension regarding Russia and the Ukraine is still in the minds of NGAS, OIL and GOLD traders. There could yet be sanctions imposed by either the US or Europe on Russia.

The DOW closed at 16336.19 up 88.97 points, an increase of 0.55%

Hope you all have a good day.