Eurozone PMI services was finalized at 51.2 in December, down from November’s 53.4. PMI composite dropped to 51.1, down from prior month’s 52.7. It’s also the lowest level in over four years. Among the countries, France PMI composite worsened further to 48.7, a 49-month low. Germany PMI composite dropped to 51.6, 66-month low. Italy, on the other hand, recovered to 50, a 3-month high.
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Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit said:
“The eurozone economy moved down another gear at the end of 2018, with growth down considerably from the elevated rates at the start of the year. December saw business activity grow at the weakest rate since late-2014 as inflows of new work barely rose. Levels of unfinished business are now falling for the first time in nearly four years as previously-received orders are not being fully replaced with new work.
“The data are consistent with eurozone GDP rising by just under 0.3% in the fourth quarter, but with quarterly growth momentum slowing to 0.15% in December.
“While a drop in business activity in France could be partly blamed on the ‘yellow vest’ protests, the rest of the region lacks any such mitigating factors, albeit with the recent weakness of the autos sector hopefully a temporary set-back.
“Importantly, with expectations of output dropping to the lowest for over four years, companies are not anticipating any imminent revival in demand. Worries reflect multiple headwinds from trade wars, Brexit, heightened political uncertainty, financial market volatility and slower global economic growth.
“Employment growth has already taken a knock as companies take a more cautious approach to hiring in the face of weaker order books. Jobs growth has hit a two-year low.
“Better news came in the form of an easing in price pressures to the lowest for over a year, which should provide some breathing space for the European Central Bank to review its policy guidance.”
Full release here.
Mid-US update: Dow rises 360 pts, EUR/USD back in range after brief spike
Yen and Swiss Franc are trading as the weakest ones as risk appetite return to the markets today. Dollar gets no support from the strong rebound in US equities, as treasury yields are essentially flat.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Dollar, Canadian Dollar and Sterling are the strongest ones.
Dollar was sold off in early US session as EUR/USD broke 1.1610 minor resistance. But the pair quickly lost steam and is now back in familiar range.
At the time of writing, DOW is trading up 1.38%, S&P 500 up 1.43% and NASDAQ up 1.84%. Five-year yield is up 0.004, 10-year yield down -0.002, 30-year yield down -0.003. While DOW’s rebound is strong, it should be reminded that it’s more likely a corrective move than not. And, it’s already close to first hurdle of 38.2% retracement of 26951 to 24845.10 at 25649.86, which is close to 55 H EMA at 25706. We’ll see whether DOW could extend the rebound through this hurdle, or get an instant rejection from it before today’s close.
In Europe, stock closed broadly higher on late buying.