Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: currency news — 26-01-2012.

The dollar weakened versus all its 16 most-traded counterparts as the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep interest rates at a record low for longer than originally forecast spurred investors to seek higher yields.

The U.S. currency touched a five-week low against the euro after policy makers said yesterday the benchmark interest rate would stay low until at least late 2014 from mid-2013 and as Italian yields fell to a six-week low. The euro rallied earlier as Italian 10-year yields fell below 6 percent for the first time since Dec. 8. The nation sold its maximum target at an auction of zero-coupon and inflation- linked debt today.

The Canadian dollar strengthened to parity with the greenback for the first time since November. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. yesterday recommended its clients buy the Canadian dollar versus the greenback, saying the Fed’s pledge to keep rates low reaffirms a dollar “weakening trend.”

The Australian dollar climbed for a second day versus the greenback after Alexei Ulyukayev, first deputy chairman of Russia’s central bank, said his nation may start buying the Aussie as a reserve currency as soon as early February.

European stocks advanced, climbing 20 percent from the September low and entering a bull market, after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled it may keep interest rates low through 2014 and a report said Greece’s creditors will make a new offer for a debt-swap deal.

U.S. policy makers are “prepared to provide further monetary accommodation if employment is not making sufficient progress towards our assessment of its maximum level, or if inflation shows signs of moving further below its mandate- consistent rate,” Bernanke said yesterday after European markets closed. Bond buying is “an option that’s certainly on the table,” he added. The Fed also extended its pledge to keep interest rates low through at least late 2014.

Orders for U.S durable goods rose 3 percent in December, exceeding the 2 percent growth estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Orders advanced for a third month boosted by demand for aircraft, autos and business equipment.

In Greece, private creditors will submit a new offer with an average interest rate of 3.75 percent on bonds issued as part of a debt restructure, Kathimerini reported, without saying where it got the information.

FTSE 100 5,795 +72.20 +1.26%, CAC 40 3,363 +50.75 +1.53%, DAX 6,540 +118.00 +1.84%

BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, advanced 3.3 percent to 2,199.5 pence. Rio Tinto Group, the third biggest, rose 4.9 percent to 3,893 pence. Anglo American Plc, the third-largest copper producer, climbed 3.1 percent to 2,737 pence after saying iron-ore output increased 5 percent in the fourth quarter, while copper volumes jumped 10 percent.

European steelmakers rallied. ThyssenKrupp AG gained 4.5 percent to 22.14 euros. ArcelorMittal added 3.8 percent to 16.72 euros. Salzgitter AG advanced 6.8 percent to 48.67 euros.

Nokia climbed 2.7 percent to 4.17 euros after selling more smartphones last quarter than projected. Nokia sold 19.6 million smartphones that can handle tasks such as video calls and showing movies, the Espoo, Finland-based company said today. Analysts had predicted sales of 18.5 million smartphones.

U.S. stocks reversed gains, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to its highest level on a closing basis since May 2008, as a report showed that sales of new homes unexpectedly fell in December.

The S&P 500 reversed gains after a report showed that sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly declined in December for the first time in four months, capping the slowest year on record for builders. An index of U.S. leading indicators rose in December for a third month, indicating the world’s largest economy will keep growing in early 2012. Orders for U.S. durable goods advanced more than forecast in December.

Dow 12,787.04 +30.08 +0.24%, Nasdaq 2,814.09 -4.22 -0.15%, S&P 500 1,323.55 -2.51 -0.19%

AT&T fell 2.2 percent to $29.55. The largest U.S. phone company predicted 2012 earnings that trailed analysts’ estimates as record demand for smartphones such as the iPhone drive up subsidy costs.

Caterpillar jumped 2.7 percent to $111.97 for the biggest advance in the Dow. Producers of coal, copper and iron ore are increasing investment to meet rising demand from emerging economies. Capital spending at major mining companies is expected to climb 25 percent this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Industries.

Oil rose after the Federal Reserve announced it plans to keep U.S. interest rates near a record low through 2014 and a report showed durable goods orders in the world’s biggest crude-consuming country increased.

Futures advanced above $100 a barrel as Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said yesterday that policy makers are considering more bond purchases to boost growth after extending the pledge to maintain interest rates. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years climbed 3 percent in December, data from the Commerce Department showed today.

The Federal Open Market Committee had previously said the benchmark rate would stay low through mid-2013. Fed officials also lowered their projections for economic expansion and inflation for this year and next.

Crude oil for March delivery rose to $101.59 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent oil for March settlement climbed $1.53, or 1.4 percent, to $111.34 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.

EUR/USD $1.3150, $1.3050, $1.3000 

USD/JPY Y77.50, Y78.00 

AUD/USD $1.0500

EUR/CHF Chf1.2100, Chf1.2050, Chf1.2000

GBP/USD $1.5600, $1.5500, $1.5430

USD/CHF Chf0.9335, Chf0.9450

Data:

07:00 Germany Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey February 5.6 5.6 5.9

07:45 France Consumer confidence January 80 80 81

11:00 United Kingdom CBI retail sales volume balance January 9 1 -22

The dollar fell  on speculation the Federal Reserve will seek to bring down unemployment by introducing another round of bond purchases, debasing the currency.

The U.S. currency declined  after policy makers said yesterday the benchmark interest rate would stay low until at least late 2014, pushing back a previous date of mid-2013.

The central bank lowered its forecast for economic growth this year to a range of 2.2% to 2.7%, from a projection of 2.5% to 2.9% in November. It predicted an expansion next year of 2.8% to 3.2%, versus a previous forecast of 3% to 3.5%.

EUR/USD: the pair has grown, showed high in $1,3170 area. The rate receded in $1,3150 area later.

GBP/USD: the pair has shown high above $1,5700, but receded later.

USD/JPY: during european session the pair was limited Y77.40-Y77.70.

The weekly EIA Natural Gas Stocks data is then due at 1530GMT, followed at 1600GMT by Kansas City Fed Production data and later, at 2130GMT by M2 Money Supply data.

EUR/USD

Offers $1.3240/60, $1.3220, $1.3200, $1.3190, $1.3175/80

Bids $1.3030, $1.3100, $1.3080/70, $1.3050/30, $1.3010/00, $1.2980

Sold E4.5bln vs target E3.5bln-E4.5bln. E4.5bln of new Jan 2014 CTZ; avg yield 3.763% (4.833%), cover 1.714 (2.24)

EUR/USD $1.3150, $1.3050, $1.3000(large) 

USD/JPY Y77.50, Y78.00 

AUD/USD $1.0500

EUR/CHF Chf1.2100, Chf1.2050, Chf1.2000

GBP/USD $1.5600(decent size), $1.5500, $1.5430

USD/CHF Chf0.9335, Chf0.9450

00:00 China Bank holiday 0

00:00 Australia Bank holiday 0

The dollar traded 0.1 percent from the least in five weeks against the euro after the Federal Reserve extended its pledge to keep interest rates low until late 2014. Economic conditions will likely “warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through late 2014,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement released in Washington yesterday. The Fed had previously pledged to keep its rate target in place until mid-2013. The central bank also lowered its forecast for economic growth this year to a range of 2.2 percent to 2.7 percent, down from a projection of 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent in November. U.S. gross domestic product increased at a 3 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter, according to the median forecast of economists in a Bloomberg News survey before the Commerce Department’s releases the data tomorrow. That compares with a 1.8 percent advance in the previous three-month period.

New Zealand’s dollar maintained a four-day gain even after the nation’s central bank held its key interest rate at a record low.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard said today it is “prudent” for the central bank to keep interest rates at record low 2.5 percent.

Demand for the 17-nation euro was limited before talks on a Greek debt swap resume.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair was in a range $1.3090-$1.3010.

GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair was in a range $1.5650-$1.5660.

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair continued yesterday's decrease.

On Thursday European data starts at 0710GMT with the GfK consumer confidence data from Germany, while France data at 0745GMT includes consumer confidence and also the quarterly industry survey. At 0800GMT, World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy becomes the first main speaker out of Davos for Thursday, followed at 1030GMT by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. At 1300GMT,

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy give a joint press conference after their meeting in Berlin. UK

data at 1100GMT sees the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. US data starts at 1330GMT with both the weekly Jobless Claims and also Durable Goods orders. The weekly EIA Natural Gas Stocks data is then due at 1530GMT, followed at 1600GMT by Kansas City Fed Production data and later, at 2130GMT by M2 Money Supply data.

Resistance 3: Y79.50 (Oct 31 high)

Resistance 2: Y79.00 (Nov 1 high)

Resistance 1: Y78.30/45 (area of Nov 1-29 high)

The current price: Y77.62

Support 1:Y77.55 (Jan 25 low)

Support 2:Y77.30 (Jan 20 low)

Support 3:Y76.85 (Nov 22 low)

Resistance 3 : $1.5770 (Dec 21 high)

Resistance 2 : $1.5725 (Dec 22 high)

Resistance 1 : $1.5680 (Jan 25 high)

The current price: $1.5661

Support 1 : $1.5625 (middle line from Jan 20)

Support 2 : $1.5585 (support line from Jan 20)

Support 3 : $1.5515 (Jan 23 low)

Change % Change Last

Oil $99.76 +0.36 +0.36%

Gold $1,710.90 +10.80 +0.64%

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 8,884 +98.36 +1.12%

Hang Seng Closed

S&P/ASX 200 4,271 +47.11 +1.12%

Shanghai Composite Closed

CAC 40 3,323 -15.77 -0.47%

DAX 6,419 -17.40 -0.27%

Dow 12,758.85 +83.10 +0.66%

Nasdaq 2,818.31 +31.67 +1.14%

S&P 500 1,326.06 +11.41 +0.87%

00:00 China Bank holiday

00:00 Australia Bank holiday

07:00 Germany Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey February 5.6 5.6

07:45 France Consumer confidence January 80 80

09:00 Switzerland World Economic Forum Annual Meetings

11:00 United Kingdom CBI retail sales volume balance January 9 1

13:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims 21/01/12 352 395

13:30 U.S. Durable Goods Orders December +3.8% +2.0%

13:30 U.S. Durable Goods Orders ex Transportation December +0.3% +0.9%

13:30 U.S. Durable goods orders ex defense December +3.7% +5.4%

15:00 U.S. New Home Sales December 315 322

15:00 U.S. Leading Indicators December +0.5% +0.7%

21:45 New Zealand Trade Balance December -308 -47

23:30 Japan National Consumer Price Index, y/y December -0.5% -0.2%

23:30 Japan National CPI Ex-Fresh Food, y/y December -0.2% -0.1%

23:30 Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index, y/y January -0.4% -0.4%

23:30 Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food, y/y January -0.3% -0.3%

23:50 Japan Retail sales, y/y December -2.3% +2.0%

23:50 Japan Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes