Daily Market News By Tradingforex.com

TF2012 · December 13, 2012

Currencies

USD/JPY The yen touched 83.67 per dollar, the weakest since March 21, before trading 0.4 percent lower at 83.59 as of 6:51 a.m. in London.The yen fell to the weakest level in almost nine months against the dollar before the Bank of Japan (8301)’s Tankan survey tomorrow, which economists say will show big manufacturers in the nation grew more pessimistic.

EUR/USD The shared currency closed above $1.3002 yesterday, signaling an upward trend that may see it test $1.3150, the 38 percent Fibonacci retracement level of a broad bearish move in the euro from May 2011 to July, Richard Adcock, head of fixed- income technical strategy at UBS AG in London, wrote today in a note to clients. The euro could rise to $1.3490, its highest level since Dec. 2, 2011, if it closes the week above $1.30

AUD/USD Australia’s currency appreciated 0.3 percent to $1.0555 yesterday in New York, after rising to $1.0586, its highest level since Sept. 14.The Australian dollars rose against their U.S. peer after the Federal Reserve added to its monetary-stimulus program, renewing concern the measures will debase the U.S. currency.

NZD/USD New Zealand’s dollar has strengthened 6.3 percent this year, the biggest increase among the 10 developed-nation currencies monitored by the Bloomberg Correlation-Weighted Indexes. The Aussie has gained 0.7 percent, and the U.S. dollar has fallen 2.9 percent.

Commodities

OIL Crude for January delivery fell as much as 39 cents to $86.38 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $86.56 at 2:44 p.m. Singapore time. The contract advanced 98 cents to $86.77 yesterday, the highest close since Dec. 5. Prices are down 12 percent this year, set for the first annual decline since 2008.

Brent oil for January settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange declined as much as 64 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $108.86 a barrel. It climbed 1.4 percent yesterday, the most since Nov. 19. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $22.64 to New York-traded West Texas Intermediate.

TF2012 · December 14, 2012

Currencies

USD/JPY The yen touched 83.96 per dollar, the lowest level since March 21, before trading at 83.78 at 6:46 a.m. in London, down 0.2 percent from yesterday.The yen fell to the weakest since March against the dollar as Japanese business confidence slid to an almost three-year low, adding to the case for more central bank easing ahead of a general election this weekend.

AUD/USD The Aussie added 0.1 percent to $1.0544 as of 4:32 p.m. in Sydney from yesterday, after earlier sliding as much as 0.2 percent. It’s set for a 0.5 percent weekly gain, having touched $1.0586 on Dec. 12, the strongest since Sept. The Australian and New Zealand dollars rose, erasing earlier losses, after a private report showed Chinese manufacturing may expand at a faster pace, boosting trade prospects.

GBP/USD Sterling depreciated 0.2 percent to 81.08 pence per euro at 5 p.m. London time after reaching 81.17, the weakest since Dec. 6. The pound weakened versus the euro and dollar as data showed a majority of U.K. manufacturers are still seeing a decline in orders even as they report improving business conditions.

Commodities

OIL Crude for January delivery rose as much as 77 cents to $86.66 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $86.60 at 3:05 p.m. Singapore time. The contract fell 88 cents to $85.89 yesterday, and prices are up 0.8 percent this week.

Brent oil for January settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, which expires today, advanced 61 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $108.54 a barrel. The more actively traded February contract was up 48 cents at $106.94. The European benchmark grade was at a premium of $21.94 to WTI.

TF2012 · December 19, 2012

Currencies

EUR/JPY

The yen touched 111.78 per euro, the weakest since Aug. 30, 2011, before trading at 111.69 as of 6:30 a.m. in London, 0.3 percent below yesterday’s close. The yen fell to its lowest level against the euro since August last year on prospects the Bank of Japan (8301) will expand stimulus at a two-day policy meeting that ends tomorrow, its first since the nation’s general election.

EUR/USD The euro added 0.5 percent to $1.3229 at 5 p.m. New York time, reaching the highest level since May 2 The euro rose to the strongest in more than seven months against the dollar on speculation U.S. lawmakers will reach a budget pact to avert pushing the economy over the so-called fiscal cliff and into recession.

AUD/USD The Aussie declined 0.2 percent to $1.0515 as of 4:11 p.m. in Sydney, having fallen 0.3 percent in the previous two days. Australia’s dollar declined for a third day against its U.S. counterpart on concern the South Pacific nation’s economy is slowing and may be in store for further interest-rate cuts by the central bank.

Commodities

OIL Crude for January delivery was at $87.84 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 9 cents, at 2:46 p.m. Singapore time. The contract expires today. The more-actively traded February future slid 3 cents to $88.37. The volume traded for all contracts was 48 percent below the average of the past 100 days. Front-month futures rose 0.8 percent yesterday to $87.93, the highest close since Dec. 4.

Brent oil for February settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange was up 10 cents at $108.94 a barrel. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $20.57 to the corresponding WTI contract, from $20.44 yesterday.

Gold for immediate delivery gained as much as 0.3 percent to $1,676.85 an ounce and was at $1,675.50 at 1:45 p.m. in Singapore. The price fell to $1,661.10 yesterday, the lowest since Aug. 31, as optimism that a deal may be reached boosted equities and pared demand for the metal as an alternative asset.

TF2012 · December 20, 2012

Currencies USD/JPY The yen strengthened 0.6 percent to 111.02 per euro at 6:33 a.m. in London from the close yesterday, when it touched 112.50, the weakest level since August 2011. The yen climbed against all of its major peers as the Bank of Japan maintained its 1 percent inflation goal after incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a doubling of the target.

AUD/USD Australia’s currency was little changed at $1.0477 as of 4:25 p.m. in Sydney after fallinCg 0.8 percent in the previous three days. Australia’s dollar maintained a three-day loss and the nation’s bonds rose amid concern U.S. lawmakers are deadlocked on a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, reducing demand for riskier assets.

NZD/USD The local dollar bought 83.34 U.S. cents at 11:28 a.m. in Wellington and is up about 1.6 percent this month. The Treasury forecasts it will average 82 cents throughout 2013 before declining to 79 cents by late 2014 New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English said the nation’s growth outlook is attracting foreign bond investors, helping propel the year’s strongest-performing Group of 10 currency and leaving the government powerless to steer it to lower levels

Commodities OIL Crude for February delivery slid as much as 56 cents to $89.42 a barrel and was at $89.54 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 3:07 p.m. Singapore time. The January contract, which expired yesterday, rose $1.58 to $89.51, the highest settlement since Oct. 19. The volume traded for all futures today was about 5 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for February settlement slipped 46 cents to $109.90 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The European benchmark contract was at a premium of $20.37 to WTI, compared with $20.38 yesterday.

GOLD Spot gold was little changed at $1,667.95 an ounce at 2 p.m. in Singapore after dropping 0.2 percent yesterday and falling to $1,661.10 on Dec. 18, the lowest since Aug. 31, on signs of progress in the U.S. negotiations. Gold for February delivery was at $1,668.40 an ounce from $1,667.70 on the Comex.

TF2012 · December 21, 2012

Currencies

USD/JPY The yen strengthened against all its major counterparts, rising 0.4 percent to 84.03 per dollar as of 6:46 a.m. in London. The yen and the dollar gained amid demand for refuge assets after U.S. lawmakers delayed a budget vote, spurring concern the so-called fiscal cliff will drive the world’s biggest economy into recession.

AUD/USD The Australian dollar fell 0.3 percent to $1.0453 as of 4:57 p.m. in Sydney from yesterday, after earlier touching $1.0438, the lowest since Dec. 4. The currency is headed for a 1.1 percent weekly loss, the biggest since the five days ended Oct. 5 Australia’s dollar touched the lowest level in more than two weeks after U.S. lawmakers scrapped a budget vote, rekindling concern the so-called fiscal cliff will drag down the world’s biggest economy.

NZD/USD The New Zealand dollar reached 83 U.S. cents, the weakest since Dec. 10, before trading at 83.04, 0.4 percent below yesterday’s close. It’s set for a 1.9 percent drop this week. The so-called kiwi lost 0.9 percent to 69.78 yen, poised for a 1.3 percent five-day decline. The currency reached 71.51 on Dec. 17, the highest since Oct. 2008.

Commodities

OIL Crude for February delivery fell as much as $1.20 to $88.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $89.33 at 2:48 p.m. Singapore time. The contract climbed 15 cents to $90.13 yesterday, the highest close since Oct. 18. Prices are up 3 percent this week, the most since August. The volume for all WTI futures today was 81 percent higher than the 100-day average.

Brent oil for February settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange slid as much as 81 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $109.39 a barrel. The European benchmark crude was at a $20.51 premium to New York-traded West Texas Intermediate, from $20.07 yesterday. The volume traded for all Brent futures today was about 20 percent higher than the 100-day average.

GOLD Spot gold fell as much as 0.7 percent to $1,635.80 an ounce and was at $1,641.70 by 11:35 a.m. in Singapore. It declined to $1,635.70 yesterday, the lowest price since Aug. 22, after data showed the U.S. economy grew at a 3.1 percent annual rate last quarter, exceeding all projections in a Bloomberg survey. Bullion is 3.2 percent lower this week, the most since the period to June 22, set for a fourth weekly drop.