Daily Markets: Investors Eye Escalating Red Sea Tensions, December PPI and Bank Earnings

From Nasdaq:

Asian Pacific markets had a mixed day, with India’s SENSEX and Japan’s Nikkei gaining, while markets in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea closed lower. European markets are up, while US equity futures are pointing slightly lower due to Middle East tensions. There are key bank earnings and consumer price index data due today.

In global economic news, China’s consumer prices fell by 0.3% in December, marking the third straight month of decline. Japan’s Economy Watchers survey outlook also decreased in December. In the US, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester emphasized that it was premature to consider cutting interest rates. Technology, energy, and real estate equities were the most active sectors in yesterday’s trade.

Bitcoin ETFs saw about $4.6 billion in flows on their first day of trading, with Bitcoin currently up 10.57% year-to-date. Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, and other companies are expected to report earnings today. Oil prices are moving higher following escalating tensions in the Middle East. Discord announced it will lay off 17% of its workforce, and Tesla will suspend car production at its factory in Berlin.

Events on the economic horizon next week include producer price index and machine tool orders in Japan, as well as eurozone industrial production. Additionally, there are key data points due in the US, including retail sales, import/export prices, and housing market data. The coming week will also see inflation rate data for Japan and the US. The author expresses his views and opinions on the current economic situation and stock market trends.



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