Wednesday Dec 18 2024 09:44
4 min
Global markets are starting the day with their attention focused on important economic indicators and corporate events that promise to influence investor sentiment. Highlights include inflation data in the United Kingdom and the Eurozone and relevant corporate results that could move specific sectors. The main event of the day (and probably the week) is the FED's decision on the interest rates for the US Dollar, as this can change the flow of money worldwide.
In the United Kingdom, the market is eagerly awaiting the release of the Consumer Price Index data (CPI), which measures inflation at the consumer level. Inflation is one of the leading indicators of the country's economic health, and recent readings have remained around 2%, in line with the Bank of England's (BOE) long-term objective. For today, the expectation is a reading of 2.6%. If the numbers come in higher than expected, the BOE may be pressured to adopt a more rigid stance on monetary policy, seeking to contain the inflationary escalation. The usual way to do that is by raising interest rates, which could boost the Pound and put pressure on the stock market.
In the Eurozone, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will also be released, offering an overview of inflation in Europe. The latest reading came in at 2.3%, slightly above the European Central Bank’s (ECB) medium-term target of keeping inflation at 2%. A further increase could reinforce the need for adjustments in monetary policy, which would be a warning sign for investors, especially in an already challenging economic and geopolitical environment.
However, the most anticipated event of the day is the decision on the interest rate for the US Dollar. The Federal Reserve (FED) recently began a cycle of cuts, reducing the rate from 5% to 4.75% at its last meeting, reflecting a view that American inflation is under control. Today, the market expects another cut of 0.25%. If the FED’s decision differs from expectations, it could trigger significant volatility in the financial markets, affecting both stocks and currencies.
In the corporate environment, Micron Technology (MU) is in the spotlight with the release of its financial statements. In its latest report, the company surprised by recording a 61.29% Growth in Total Revenues. From a technical standpoint, the price has been testing an important resistance area around the 110 level, and if today’s reports bring another good number, it could make Micron resume its uptrend in the medium term.
Finally, Tesla (TSLA) shares continue to impress, renewing all-time highs and accumulating a more than 120% rise since October 23. With the price trading close to the psychological resistance of 500 USD, many investors may take advantage of this level to potentially take profits, which could cause the price to retrace a little bit in the coming weeks.
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Past performance is not indicative of any future results. This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be construed to be investment advice.