The key points from today’s economic news, brought to you by Guardian Stockbrokers.
Number of unemployment benefits claimants in the UK eased in January
In the UK, number of unemployment benefits claimants registered a drop of 14.80 K in January, more than market expectations of a decline of 3.00 K. Number of unemployment benefits claimants had registered a revised decline of 15.20 K in the prior month.
Employment in the UK recorded a rise in the October-December 2015 period
In the UK, employment advanced by 205.00 K in the October-December 2015 period, compared to market anticipations of an advance of 225.00 K. Employment had recorded a gain of 267.00 K in the September-November 2015 period.
UK average earnings excluding bonus advanced more than expected in the October-December 2015 period
On an annual basis in the UK, the average earnings excluding bonus registered a rise of 2.00% in the October-December 2015 period, compared to a rise of 1.90% in the September-November 2015 period. Markets were expecting the average earnings excluding bonus to climb 1.80%.
UK average earnings including bonus rose as expected in the October-December 2015 period
In the October-December 2015 period, the average earnings including bonus rose 1.90% in the UK on a YoY basis, at par with market expectations. The average earnings including bonus had advanced by a revised 2.10% in the September-November 2015 period.
UK claimant count rate registered a surprise drop in January
In the UK, the claimant count rate fell unexpectedly to 2.20% in January, compared to market expectations of an unchanged reading. In the previous month, the claimant count rate had registered a reading of 2.30%.
UK ILO unemployment rate remained unchanged in the October-December 2015 period
In the UK, the ILO unemployment rate remained flat at 5.10% in the October-December 2015 period, compared to market expectations of a drop to 5.00%.
Eurozone construction output eased in December
In the Eurozone, the seasonally adjusted construction output fell 0.60% in December on a MoM basis. In the prior month, construction output had registered a revised rise of 0.90%.
Swiss economic expectations index registered a drop in February
In February, the economic expectations index in Switzerland fell to a level of -5.90. The economic expectations index had registered a reading of -3.00 in the prior month.
US housing starts unexpectedly dropped in January
In January, housing starts in the US unexpectedly dropped by 3.80%, on MoM basis, to an annual rate of 1099.00 K, compared to a revised level of 1143.00 K in the previous month. Markets were anticipating housing starts to advance to a level of 1173.00 K.
US producer price (ex-food & energy) advanced more than expected in January
In January, producer price (ex-food & energy) in the US recorded a rise of 0.40% on a monthly basis, more than market expectations for an advance of 0.10%. In the prior month, producer price (ex-food & energy) had advanced by a revised 0.20%.
US producer price declined less than expected in January
In January, producer price recorded a drop of 0.20% in the US on a YoY basis, lower than market expectations for a drop of 0.60%. In the previous month, producer price had registered a drop of 1.00%.
US producer price (ex-food & energy) rose more than expected in January
Producer price (ex-food & energy) climbed 0.60% on a YoY basis in the US, in January, higher than market expectations for an advance of 0.40%. In the previous month, producer price (ex-food & energy) had recorded a rise of 0.30%.
US Redbook index climbed in the last week
In the US, the Redbook index recorded a rise of 0.90% on a YoY basis, in the week ended 12 February 2016. The Redbook index had recorded a rise of 0.60% in the prior week.
US Redbook index eased in the last week
The seasonally adjusted Redbook index in the US recorded a drop of 2.50% on a MoM basis, in the week ended 12 February 2016. In the previous week, the Redbook index had registered a drop of 2.60%.
US industrial production rose more than expected in January
Industrial production in the US climbed 0.90% on a MoM basis in January, compared to a revised fall of 0.70% in the previous month. Markets were expecting industrial production to climb 0.40%.
US building permits dropped in January
In January, building permits in the US recorded a drop of 0.20%, on MoM basis, to an annual rate of 1202.00 K, higher than market expectations of 1200.00 K. In the prior month, building permits had recorded a revised level of 1204.00 K.
US producer price surprisingly rose in January
Producer price unexpectedly climbed 0.10% in the US on a monthly basis in January, compared to a drop of 0.20% in the prior month. Market expectation was for producer price to ease 0.20%.
US manufacturing production rose more than expected in January
On a MoM basis, manufacturing production in the US climbed 0.50% in January, more than market expectations for an advance of 0.20%. Manufacturing production had dropped by a revised 0.20% in the prior month.
US capacity utilisation advanced in January
Capacity utilisation recorded a rise to 77.10% in the US, in January, higher than market expectations of a rise to 76.70%. In the prior month, capacity utilisation had registered a revised level of 76.40%.
US mortgage applications advanced in the last week
Mortgage applications advanced 8.20% on a weekly basis, in the week ended 12 February 2016, in the US. Mortgage applications had registered a rise of 9.30% in the previous week.
Canadian investors remained net buyers of foreign securities in the previous month
Canadian investors were net buyers of C$17.45 billion worth of foreign securities in December, from being net buyers of C$16.46 billion worth of foreign securities in the prior month.
Foreign investors turned net sellers of Canadian securities in the previous month
Foreign investors turned net sellers of C$1.41 billion worth of Canadian securities in December, from being net buyers of a revised C$2.94 billion worth of Canadian securities in the previous month.
Foreign investors remained net buyers of Japanese bonds in the previous week
Foreign investors remained net buyers of ¥1146.50 billion worth of Japanese bonds in the week ended 12 February 2016, from being net buyers of a revised ¥12.90 billion worth of Japanese bonds in the prior week.
Japanese investors became net buyers of foreign bonds in the previous week
Japanese investors were net buyers of ¥1318.30 billion worth of foreign bonds in the week ended 12 February 2016, from being net buyers of a revised ¥1455.40 billion worth of foreign bonds in the prior week.
Foreign investors remained net sellers of Japanese stocks in the previous week
Foreign investors were net sellers of ¥562.90 billion worth of Japanese stocks in the week ended 12 February 2016, from being net sellers of a revised ¥610.70 billion worth of Japanese stocks in the prior week.
Japanese investors remained net buyers of foreign stocks in the previous week
Japanese investors were net buyers of ¥81.80 billion worth of foreign stocks in the week ended 12 February 2016, as compared to being net buyers of a revised ¥202.50 billion worth of foreign stocks in the previous week.
Japanese adjusted merchandise trade surplus expanded in January
Adjusted merchandise trade surplus in Japan rose to ¥119.40 billion in January, compared to a revised adjusted merchandise trade surplus of ¥15.30 billion in the previous month. Markets were anticipating the nation to record an adjusted merchandise trade surplus of ¥61.60 billion.
Japanese imports fell more than expected in January
In January, imports in Japan dropped 18.00% on an annual basis, compared to a similar fall in the prior month. Markets were expecting imports to ease 15.80%.
Japanese exports declined more than expected in January
Japan Customs has indicated that, on a YoY basis in Japan, exports recorded a drop of 12.90% in January, higher than market expectations for a drop of 10.90%. In the prior month, exports had dropped 8.00%.
Japan recorded merchandise (total) trade deficit in January
In January, merchandise (total) trade deficit in Japan recorded a level of ¥645.90 billion, compared to a revised merchandise (total) trade surplus of ¥140.30 billion in the prior month. Market anticipation was for the nation to register a merchandise (total) trade deficit of ¥658.50 billion.
Japanese machine tool orders fell in January
The final machine tool orders registered a drop of 17.20% on an annual basis, in January, in Japan. In the prior month, machine tool orders had recorded a drop of 25.70%. The preliminary figures had also recorded a drop of 17.20%.
Chinese CPI advanced as expected in January
In January, on a monthly basis, the consumer price index (CPI) in China registered a rise of 0.50%, meeting market expectations. The CPI had registered a similar rise in the previous month.
Chinese CPI advanced less than expected in January
On a YoY basis, the CPI recorded a rise of 1.80% in January, in China, less than market expectations for a rise of 1.90%. In the prior month, the CPI had climbed 1.60%.
Chinese PPI dropped less than expected in January
In China, the producer price index (PPI) recorded a drop of 5.30% on an annual basis in January, less than market expectations for a fall of 5.40%. In the prior month, the PPI had recorded a drop of 5.90%.
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