Yesterday – notes Greg Secker – the FTSE closed up 18 points at 4,547 and the Dow closed down 26 points at 9,070. In forex news the yen declined against the euro after a government report showed Japanese manufacturers boosted production for a fourth month, reducing demand for safe-haven currencies. The euro traded near a one-month high versus the Swiss franc before a European report that may show executive and consumer confidence rose to an eight-month high, adding to signs the recession in the 16- nation region may be receding. New Zealand’s dollar fell the most in three weeks against the US dollar after the nation’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged for a second month. In data releases today the GBP Nationwide HPI figure released this morning was better than expectations at 1.3%. At 1.30pm there is the USD unemployment claims to look out for.
