News Bites
Gold and silver are flat leading into the European open
(Kitco News) - After another tough day on Thursday gold (0.18%) is starting the session marginally higher. Silver is currently trading flat at $22.35/oz. In the rest of the commodities complex, copper is 0.43% higher and spot WTI has risen 0.78%.
In the Asia Pac session risk sentiment was positive. The Nikkei 225 (1.00%), ASX (0.22%), and the Shanghai Composite (0.94%) all performed well. Futures in Europe are pointing towards a positive open.
In FX markets, the dollar index is 0.15% higher with both AUD and NZD falling nearly half a percent against the greenback. In the crypto space, BTC/USD is 0.44% higher trading at $56,76.
The US Senate has voted to pass the bill to fund the government.
Fed's Mester said omicron risks fueling further inflation pressures in the U.S.
China's ambassador to the U.S. calls for the abolition of tariffs on Chinese goods.
French health ministry confirms that there are currently 9 confirmed omicron cases in the mainland.
New York state has found 5 cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Japan PM Kishida says will submit new laws to boost supply chains during parliament next year.
Pimco says concerned the Fed is behind the curve on inflation, need to act more quickly.
The U.S. and EU have issued a joint statement with strong concerns over China. The U.S. & EU expressed strong concern over China's "problematic and unilateral actions" in the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait.
China Caixin services PMI for November 52.1 (prior 53.8).
Japan services PMI for November 53.0 (vs. 50.7 prior).
Australia AiG Construction PMI for November 57.0 (prior 57.6).
Looking ahead to the rest of the session highlights include services PMI's from the major nations, EZ retail sales, U.S. and Canadian jobs reports, U.S. durable goods, comments from ECB's Lagarde, Lane, BoE's Saunders, and Fed's Bullard.
