North American Summary and Highlights 16 Apr
Overview - In a subdued session, the USD was mostly marginally higher.
European and North American sessions
UK GDP was significantly stronger than expected with a 0.5% February increase but the lift to the GBP was marginal with EUR/GBP subsequently more than fully erasing a modest dip on the data. GBP/USD fell to 1.3530 from 1.3580 while EUR/USD was fairly stable near 1.1780 after slipping from around 1.18. USD/JPY saw modest gains edging above 159.
Despite a 10-day ceasefire being agreed in Lebanon oil was firmer with a US-Iran deal still looking distant. USD/CAD edged below 1.37 from 1.3730 but AUD/USD, after failing to break above .72, slipped to .7160, leaving AUD/CAD softer near .98.
US data was mixed with initial claims falling to 207k from 218k and April’s Philly Fed manufacturing index strong at 26.7 from 18.1. However these resilient indicators were followed by an unexpected 0.5% decline in March industrial production, with manufacturing falling by 0.1%.