CFD Markets News and Forecasts — 25-05-2018

• N. Korea must denuclearize in verifiable manner

• Says international community should transmit clear signal to pyongyang

• Conditions must be met before we can discuss long-term partnership with pyongyang

• Future innovations could contain seeds of potential future systemic vulnerabilities in the financial system

• Public transparency and accountability around financial stability and monetary policy important

• Does not comment on U.S. economic or monetary policy outlook in prepared speech in Stockholm

U.S. stock-index futures fell slightly on Friday, as dropping oil prices weighed on energy companies, while a measured response by North Korea to President Donald Trump's cancellation of a planned summit mitigated negative sentiment.

Global Stocks:

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April decreased $4.2 billion or 1.7 percent to $248.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 2.7 percent March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.9 percent. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $5.6 billion or 6.1 percent to $87.1 billion. Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $246.7 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 2.1 percent to $82.8 billion.

• Says Central Bank independence credibility is very important for Turkey's economy

Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), in volume terms, was estimated to have increased by 0.9% to £84.9 billion in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2018 from £84.1 billion in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2017.

Business investment was estimated to have fallen by 0.2% to £46.1 billion between Quarter 4 2017 and Quarter 1 2018.

Between Quarter 1 2017 and Quarter 1 2018, GFCF was estimated to have increased by 4.3% from £81.5 billion; business investment was estimated to have increased by 2.0% from £45.2 billion.

UK gross domestic product (GDP) in volume terms was estimated to have increased by 0.1% between Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2017 and Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2018, unrevised from the preliminary estimate of GDP.

When comparing GDP growth in the most recent quarter to the same quarter a year ago, we see a continuation of a pattern of slowing growth, in part reflecting a slowing in the growth of consumer-facing industries.

The services industries increased by 0.3% in Quarter 1 2018; while construction decreased by 2.7% in Quarter 1 2018.

Household spending grew by 0.2%, while business investment decreased by 0.2% between Quarter 4 2017 and Quarter 1 2018.

Compensation of employees increased by 1.6% in Quarter 1 2018, contributing most to the income approach to measuring GDP; in part reflecting an increase in earnings and employment in the latest quarter.

GDP per head in volume terms decreased by 0.1% between Quarter 4 2017 and Quarter 1 2018.

High spirits among German businesses have evaporated. The ifo Business Climate Index for Germany fell to 102.1 points in April from 103.3 points in March. The indicator for the current business situation fell and expectations also deteriorated. The German economy is slowing down.

In manufacturing the business climate deteriorated for the third consecutive month. Assessments of the current business situation declined but nevertheless remain at a high level. Business expectations dropped to their lowest ebb since August 2016. Capacity utilisation fell by 0.3 percentage points to 87.7 percent. However, it remains above its long-term average of 83.6 percent.

In the service sector, the business climate index dropped markedly. This was primarily due to far less optimistic business expectations. Assessments of the current business situation were also poorer than last month, but remain at a very high level.

EUR/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.1841 (2040)

$1.1791 (1335)

$1.1765 (351)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.1704

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.1654 (3324)

$1.1619 (3076)

$1.1580 (4607)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options and PUT options with the expiration date June, 8 is 156462 contracts (according to data from May, 24) with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,1500 (6630);

GBP/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.3615 (2516)

$1.3535 (1085)

$1.3474 (334)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.3356

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.3294 (1832)

$1.3260 (1291)

$1.3223 (1050)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date June, 8 is 38688 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3600 (2516);

- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date June, 8 is 41163 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3400 (2452);

- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 1.06 versus 1.05 from the previous trading day according to data from May, 24.

* - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange bulletin (CME) is used for the calculation.

** - Open interest takes into account the total number of option contracts that are open at the moment.

Overall consumer prices in Tokyo were up just 0.4 percent on year in May, according to rttnews.

That was beneath expectations for 0.5 percent, which would have been unchanged.

Core CPI came in at 0.5 percent, also shy of forecasts for 0.6 percent - which again would have been unchanged.

• Russia regrets cancellation of summit between United States and North Korea

• Hopes that summit will take place nonetheless

• Failure to save Iran deal would have lamentable consequences

• BoE is confident major UK banks can withstand a "cliff-edge Brexit"

• In exceptional circumstances boe can tolerate lengthier inflation overshoots, up to a point

• If Brexit is "disorderly", BoE likely to take similar approach to policy as after june 2016 referendum

• Brexit will be key factor for BoE interest rates