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The key points from today’s economic news, brought to you by Guardian Stockbrokers.
UK business barometer rose in April
In April, the business barometer rose to a level of 47.00 % in the UK. The business barometer had recorded a level of 35.00 % in the previous month.
UK CBI distributive trade survey’s retail sales balance surprisingly rose in April
In April, the CBI distributive trade survey’s retail sales balance advanced unexpectedly to a level of 38.00% in the UK, compared to a reading of 9.00% in the prior month. Markets were expecting the CBI distributive trade survey’s retail sales balance to drop to 6.00%.
UK consumer confidence dropped in April
The consumer confidence in the UK registered a drop to -7.00 in April. In the previous month, the consumer confidence had recorded a reading of -6.00.
ECB maintained ultra-loose monetary policy
The European Central Bank (ECB) left key interest rates at historic lows and the mass bond-buying programme unchanged. The bank’s statement repeated past wording that the ECB stands ready to increase stimulus if the outlook for growth and inflation in the Euro-zone worsens. The ECB President, Mario Draghi, highlighted the overall economic improvement in the Euro-zone but stated that inflation pressures in the region remain subdued and are yet to show a convincing upward trend.
Euro-zone economic sentiment indicator rose in April
The economic sentiment indicator registered a rise to 109.60 in the Euro-zone, in April, compared to market expectations of an advance to a level of 108.20. In the previous month, the economic sentiment indicator had registered a revised reading of 108.00.
Euro-zone business climate indicator surprisingly climbed in April
In the Euro-zone, the business climate indicator advanced unexpectedly to 1.09 in April, compared to market expectations of a fall to a level of 0.82. In the previous month, the business climate indicator had recorded a revised level of 0.83.
Euro-zone services sentiment indicator climbed in April
The services sentiment indicator rose to a level of 14.20 in the Euro-zone, in April, compared to market expectations of a rise to 12.90. The services sentiment indicator had registered a revised level of 12.80 in the previous month.
Euro-zone consumer confidence index rose in April
In April, the final consumer confidence index registered a rise to -3.60 in the Euro-zone, at par with market expectations. The preliminary figures had also recorded a rise to -3.60. In the previous month, the consumer confidence index had registered a level of -5.00.
Euro-zone industrial confidence index surprisingly climbed in April
The industrial confidence index registered an unexpected rise to 2.60 in the Euro-zone, in April, compared to market expectations of a steady reading. The industrial confidence index had registered a revised reading of 1.30 in the previous month.
German consumer confidence index climbed in May
In Germany, the consumer confidence index registered a rise to 10.20 in May, compared to market expectations of a rise to a level of 9.90. In the previous month, the consumer confidence index had recorded a reading of 9.80.
German HICP remained unchanged in April
The flash harmonised consumer price index (HICP) in Germany remained unchanged in April on a monthly basis, higher than market expectations for a drop of 0.10%. In the previous month, the HICP had advanced 0.10%.
German CPI advanced more than expected in April
On a YoY basis, the preliminary consumer price index (CPI) climbed 2.00% in April, in Germany, compared to an advance of 1.60% in the previous month. Market anticipation was for the CPI to climb 1.90%.
German CPI remained unchanged in April
In April, the preliminary CPI remained flat on a monthly basis in Germany, more than market expectations for a drop of 0.10%. The CPI had advanced 0.20% in the prior month.
German HICP rose more than expected in April
In April, the flash HICP in Germany advanced 2.00% on a YoY basis, higher than market expectations for a rise of 1.90%. In the previous month, the HICP had climbed 1.50%.
Italian consumer confidence index declined in April
The consumer confidence index in Italy recorded a drop to 107.50 in April, compared to market expectations of a drop to 107.40. The consumer confidence index had registered a level of 107.60 in the previous month.
Italian business confidence index climbed in April
Compared to a revised reading of 107.20 in the previous month the business confidence index climbed to 107.90 in April, in Italy. Market anticipation was for the business confidence index to climb to 107.30.
Spanish HICP advanced more than expected in April
The flash HICP registered a rise of 2.60% in Spain, on an annual basis in April, more than market expectations for a rise of 2.30%. In the previous month, the HICP index had climbed 2.10%.
Spanish HICP index rose more than expected in April
The flash HICP climbed 0.90% in Spain on a monthly basis in April, compared to an advance of 1.10% in the prior month. Markets were expecting the HICP to climb 0.70%.
Spanish unemployment rate (survey) unexpectedly rose in 1Q 2017
Unemployment rate (survey) recorded an unexpected rise to 18.75% in Spain, in 1Q 2017, higher than market expectations of a fall to 18.60%. In the prior quarter, unemployment rate (survey) had recorded a reading of 18.63%.
Spanish CPI rose more than expected in April
On a monthly basis, the preliminary CPI in Spain advanced 1.00% in April, compared to a flat reading in the prior month. Markets were anticipating the CPI to climb 0.90%.
Spanish CPI advanced more than expected in April
On a YoY basis in Spain, the flash CPI advanced 2.60% in April, compared to an advance of 2.30% in the previous month. Markets were expecting the CPI to rise 2.50%.
Swiss trade surplus dropped in March
Trade surplus in Switzerland dropped to CHF 3.10 billion in March. Switzerland had registered a revised trade surplus of CHF 3.12 billion in the previous month.
Swiss exports advanced in March
On a MoM basis, exports in Switzerland registered a rise of 2.50% in March. In the prior month, exports had fallen by a revised 1.50%.
Swiss imports slid in March
On a MoM basis, imports registered a drop of 1.40% in March, in Switzerland. In the previous month, imports had advanced by a revised 2.70%.
US Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity index fell in April
The Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity index eased to 7.00 in April, in the US, compared to market expectations of a drop to 17.00. The Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity index had recorded a level of 20.00 in the previous month.
US pending home sales dropped less than expected in March
In March, on a monthly basis, pending home sales registered a drop of 0.80% in the US, compared to a rise of 5.50% in the prior month. Market anticipation was for pending home sales to ease 1.00%.
US initial jobless claims climbed in the last week
The seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims rose to a level of 257.00 K in the week ended 22 April 2017, in the US, compared to a revised reading of 243.00 K in the prior week. Markets were anticipating initial jobless claims to climb to a level of 245.00 K.
US wholesale inventories unexpectedly fell in March
In March, the seasonally adjusted flash wholesale inventories unexpectedly eased 0.10% in the US on a MoM basis, less than market expectations for an advance of 0.20%. In the previous month, the wholesale inventories had climbed 0.40%.
US pending home sales rose in March
On an annual basis, pending home sales rose 0.50% in March, in the US. In the previous month, pending home sales had fallen 2.40%.
US non-defence capital goods orders (ex aircraft) rose less than expected in March
The flash non-defence capital goods orders (ex aircraft) in the US climbed 0.20% in March on a monthly basis, compared to a drop of 0.10% in the prior month. Markets were anticipating the non-defence capital goods orders (ex aircraft) to advance 0.50%.
US non-defence capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) rose more than expected in March
In the US, the preliminary non-defence capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) advanced 0.40% in March, on a monthly basis, higher than market expectations for a rise of 0.10%. In the previous month, the non-defence capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) had recorded a rise of 1.00%.
US continuing jobless claims advanced in the last week
In the US, the seasonally adjusted continuing jobless claims climbed to 1988.00 K in the week ended 15 April 2017, compared to a revised level of 1978.00 K in the prior week. Markets were expecting continuing jobless claims to rise to 2007.00 K.
US durable goods orders (ex transportation) surprisingly dropped in March
On a MoM basis, the flash durable goods orders (ex transportation) unexpectedly dropped 0.20% in the US, in March, lower than market expectations for an advance of 0.40%. In the prior month, durable goods orders (ex transportation) had advanced 0.50%.
US durable goods orders advanced less than expected in March
On a monthly basis, in March, the preliminary durable goods orders recorded a rise of 0.70% in the US, lower than market expectations for an advance of 1.30%. Durable goods orders had risen 1.80% in the previous month.
US advance goods trade deficit rose in March
Advance goods trade deficit in the US widened to $64.80 billion in March, compared to a revised advance goods trade deficit of $63.90 billion in the prior month. Market expectation was for the country’s advance goods trade deficit to rise to $65.20 billion.
Japanese retail trade unexpectedly advanced in March
On a monthly basis in Japan, retail trade unexpectedly climbed 0.20% in March, more than market expectations for a fall of 0.30%. Retail trade had risen by a revised 0.30% in the prior month.
Japanese Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food fell less than expected in April
In April, Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food in Japan slid 0.10% on a YoY basis, lower than market expectations for a drop of 0.20%. Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food had fallen 0.40% in the previous month.
Japanese National CPI ex-fresh food advanced as expected in March
National CPI ex-fresh food rose 0.20% on an annual basis in March, in Japan, meeting market expectations. In the previous month, National CPI ex-fresh food had registered a similar rise.
Japanese job to applicant ratio surprisingly climbed in March
Job to applicant ratio advanced unexpectedly to a level of 1.45 in March, in Japan, compared to a reading of 1.43 in the previous month. Markets were anticipating job to applicant ratio to remain unchanged.
Japanese retail trade advanced more than expected in March
Retail trade rose 2.10% in Japan on a YoY basis in March, compared to a revised rise of 0.20% in the prior month. Markets were anticipating retail trade to rise 1.50%.
Japanese unemployment rate steadied in March
In March, unemployment rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.80%. Markets were expecting unemployment rate to advance to 2.90%.
Japanese vehicle production rose in March
Vehicle production in Japan recorded a rise of 4.70% on a YoY basis, in March. Vehicle production had registered a rise of 11.20% in the previous month.
Japanese national CPI advanced less than expected in March
The national CPI advanced 0.20% on an annual basis in Japan, in March, less than market expectations for a rise of 0.30%. The national CPI had risen 0.30% in the prior month.
Japanese industrial production advanced less than expected in March
In March, on a YoY basis, the preliminary industrial production registered a rise of 3.30% in Japan, less than market expectations for a rise of 3.90%. In the prior month, industrial production had climbed 4.70%.
Japanese household spending dropped more than expected in March
On an annual basis, household spending recorded a drop of 1.30% in Japan, in March, more than market expectations for a fall of 0.50%. In the previous month, household spending had registered a drop of 3.80%.
Japanese Tokyo CPI fell less than expected in April
In Japan, Tokyo CPI registered a drop of 0.10% in April on a YoY basis, compared to a fall of 0.40% in the previous month. Markets were anticipating Tokyo CPI to fall 0.20%.
Japanese industrial production dropped more than expected in March
The preliminary industrial production registered a drop of 2.10% on a MoM basis in Japan, in March, compared to an advance of 3.20% in the prior month. Market expectation was for industrial production to drop 0.80%.
Japanese large retailer’s sales declined in March
Large retailer’s sales fell 0.80% in Japan on a MoM basis, in March. In the prior month, large retailer’s sales had registered a drop of 2.70%.
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