US investment house notable buyer of EUR/USD in recent trade, helping trip aforementioned buy stops through 1.3010.  We’ve been as high as 1.3017 so far. UPDATE:   Talk of more buy stops through 1.3025.  But we have a reliable UK clearer telling us there are sell orders lined up all the way from 1.3025 to 1.3050.  [...]

LONDON (MNI) – The UK manufacturing sector contracted in December, but only marginally, slowing less rapidly than economists had expected. The Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply survey from Reuters came in at 49.6, well above analysts’ median forecast for a 47.6 outturn, and up from a revised from 47.7 in November. While the headline [...]

Happy new year to you all… EUR/USD:  Tech support 1.2930/35 and 1.2900/10. Bids 1.2975 (BIS). Offers 1.3000/10 (Asian sovereign) with buy stops above on a break, ahead of further offers 1.3040/50 GBP/USD:  Bids 1.5545/55,  offers 1.5600/10, buy stops above on a break EUR/GBP: Tech support 0.8330/35 and 0.8300/05 . Offers 0.8355/65 USD/JPY: Talk semi official (kampo) bids  [...]

– Adds Comments In 7th Paragraph from IAB’s Weise On 2012 Outlook SA Unemployment: -22k (pan-German), -13k (West), -9k (East) – FRANKFURT (MNI) – The number of jobless in Germany continued to decline in December, leaving the average level for 2011 at a 20-year low, the Federal Labour Office reported on Tuesday. In seasonally adjusted [...]

Up sharply (well fairly sharply)  from revised 47.7 in November (prev 47.6), much  better than  median forecast of 47.3.

We’ve bumped up to $109.80 from opening lows around 108.24 in Asia on the back of the threats from Iran’s army chief which Gerry mentioned earlier. There’s some technical resistance ahead around 110.00, but the Feb contract has since eased back around 109.50 Nymex WTI is getting left behind a bit with a recent high  [...]

Will strive to maintain Bundesbank tradition for eurozone Monetary policy only works when govts have solid finances Yada, yada, yada…..  Same shit, different day.

SA Unemployment: -22k (pan-German), -13k (West), -9k (East) – FRANKFURT (MNI) – The number of jobless in Germany continued to decline in December, leaving the average level for 2011 at a 20-year low, the Federal Labour Office reported on Tuesday. In seasonally adjusted terms, 2.888 million persons were counted as unemployed last month compared to [...]

GERMANY DATA: December sa unemployment -22k m/m – Germany December sa unemployment rate 6.8% vs November 6.9% – Germany December sa unemployment 2.888 mln vs November 2.91 mln – Germany December nsa unemployment rate 6.6% vs November 6.4% – Germany December nsa unemployment 2.78 mln vs November 2.713 mln – Germany November sa payroll jobs [...]

Compares with Reuters’ median forecast of -20k.

Around 1.2975. We’re presently at 1.2983.

Presently at 139 bps, up from the 133 bps I jotted down first thing. France to sell 3, 6 and 11 month BTFs today, indication sizes 4-5 bln, 1.8-2.2 bln and 1.8-2.2 bln respectively. EUR/USD sits at 1.2985, little changed from when I first parked by bum.  Early rallyette (session high 1.3007) ran into renewed [...]

After 44.8 in November. A surprisingly strong read, the medium forecast having been around 45.4.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told La Stampa “The US must take care of its own crisis, and won’t give a dollar to save Europe.” Romney says he is aware that a collapse in Europe would have “enormous repercussions” for the World’s economy, but opined “It is not our job to avoid it. Europeans have [...]

The US aircraft carrier recently left the area while the Iranians undertook naval exercises.

He has told Reuters Insider “In my view gold could go to $1.200-1,300 (an ounce). Gold has been up 11 years in a row which is extremely unusual in any financial asset, so gold is overdue for a correction.” On currencies he says he has a short-term bet on the euro, saying “I own the [...]

Govt spokesman Kapsis says Greece will likely need more fiscal measures to plug holes in the 2011 budget. The official says the interim govt has a “very specific” programme to follow with goal of keeping country in euro.  

– Nov +50k, Oct +11k, Sep +22k, Aug +7k, Jul +31k, Jun +60k, May +49k FRANKFURT (MNI) – Employment in Germany increased for the 21st consecutive month in November to yet another record high, while unemployment fell further, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Tuesday. Taking into account the upward revisions of past months, the [...]

GERMANY DATA: November ILO sa employed 41.188 mln; +50k m/m: stats off. – Germany November ILO sa unemployed 2.34 mln; -50k m/m: stats office – Germany November ILO sa unemployment rate 5.5%; October 5.6% – See MNI MainWire for details