Daily Market Report – 19/12/2014

GBP
The latest  retail sales figures suggest low inflation and falling petrol
prices helped increase spending during the first two months of the final
quarter this year . Even though the December sales data may come in weaker
when compared with ‘Black Friday’ bolstered November, the total fourth-quarter
sales should come in stronger. UK shoppers have been enjoying massive discounts
ahead of the festive season, while cheaper petrol has given the buyers’

GBP
The latest  retail sales figures suggest low inflation and falling petrol
prices helped increase spending during the first two months of the final
quarter this year . Even though the December sales data may come in weaker
when compared with ‘Black Friday’ bolstered November, the total fourth-quarter
sales should come in stronger. UK shoppers have been enjoying massive discounts
ahead of the festive season, while cheaper petrol has given the buyers’
appetite a healthy boost too .Adding to the positive sentiment was  Inflation
below the official target of 2% and the record positive outlook
for UK households for their personal finances.

EUR
German business confidence rose for a second month in a sign that Europe’s
largest economy is overcoming the weakness it hit earlier in the year. The
Bundesbank has said that the German economy is showing signs of strengthening
after it effectively stagnated in the middle of the year and managed only a
“modest start” to the fourth quarter. Even so, the recovery may come too late
to be much help to the euro area, leaving the European Central Bank considering
buying government bonds to stave off region-wide deflation.

USD
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week as the
worlds largest economy’s continued to show improvement. Employers are
dismissing less and hiring at the strongest pace since 1999, a sign of a
tightening labour market conditions that may put upward pressure on wage
growth. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and her colleagues yesterday raised
their assessment of the labour market and said they will remain patient on
the timing of the first interest-rate rate increase.

Key Announcements:
There are no key announcements today 

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