North American Summary and Highlights 13 Mar
Overview - The USD was generally firm on Middle East risks. Economic data was weak in the US, UK and particularly Canada.
North American session
US data was on balance weaker than expected, particularly a downward revision to Q4 GDP to 0.7% from 1.4%. Gains of 0.4% in January personal income, spending and core PCE prices were respectively marginally weaker, marginally stronger and spot on relative to expectations. A flat January durable goods orders figure, with ex transport up 0.4%, was a little softer than expected.
The USD saw a dip on the data with USD/JPY getting close to 159 before rebounding to near 159.70 with oil and equity prices showing Middle East tensions persisted. EUR/USD saw a fresh low at 1.1425. GBP/USD remained weaker but EUR/GBP came off its highs. AUD/USD nudged below .70 from .7050 while USD/CAD advanced to 1.3730 from 1.3660.
A very weak February Canadian employment report, down by 83.9k, with unemployment at 6.7% from 6.5% added to the pressure on the CAD, though a bounce in AUD/CAD on the data was subsequently reversed. A US judge ruled against the legal action taken against Fed’s Powell.
European morning session
EUR/USD came under pressure in the European morning, sliding to 1.1435 from 1.15 before correcting to 1.1470, while EUR/CHF fell to .9025 from .9050 with only a limited correction. With January UK GDP disappointing with an unchanged outcome however, EUR/GBP showed little movement while EUR/USD and EUR/CHF were sliding, and later picked up to .8650 from .8630. USD/JPY was fairly stable around 159.40 while the USD made modest gains versus AUD and CAD.