Daily Market Report 17/10/12 The market’s unrelenting desire for a Spanish bailout caused consistent euro strength yesterday. A suggestion that Spain could receive a precautionary credit line from the Europe’s rescue fund spurred investors to take riskier positions in the currency. The market’s unrelenting desire for a Spanish bailout caused consistent euro strength yesterday. A suggestion that Spain could receive a precautionary credit line from the Europe’s rescue fund spurred investors to take riskier positions in the currency. Not an unfamiliar position, we have previously seen rumour after rumour energise the euro as investors covet their long awaited bailout, only for a realisation of Spain’s divergent attitude cause investors to retreat. The difference in this instance is that the idea was floated by German officials, who previously were against such measures. The euro saw strong gains against most of its major counterparts, with the yen and dollar safe havens unravelling on the notion, whilst it also gained against sterling. In the UK, data released showed that the economy’s inflation rate fell to 2.2%, close to the Bank of England’s 2% target. Potentially acting as the catalyst, this result could cause the bank to loosen monetary policy conditions, through the form of further stimulus or a rate cut, speculation which contributed to the pound’s weakness against the euro. Last night, Moody’s opted to keep Spain’s rating a level above junk bond status, citing the efforts of the government to curb the debt problem and the insulating support of the ECB and EU. The news caused an instantaneous strengthening of the currency, which has levelled since, though further optimism could prompt more euro strength against the dollar and sterling. Key Announcements Today: 09.30am – GBP – Claimant Count Change: reduction by 0.2k 09.30am – GBP – MPC Meeting Minutes 09.30am – GBP – Unemployment Rate: expected to remain level at 8.1% 13.30pm – USD – Building Permits: expected rise to 0.81m 13.30pm – USD – Housing Starts: increase to 0.77m