Preliminary readings released by Markit - 24 January 2018

  • Prior 60.6
  • Services PMI 57.6 vs 56.4 expected
  • Prior 56.6
  • Composite PMI 58.6 vs 57.9 expected
  • Prior 58.1

A dip in manufacturing numbers, figures since Germany and France both showed a dip as well. But services and composite numbers show fastest growth in almost 12 years to start off 2018.

Solid numbers once again. If you're just looking at the PMI chart over the last year, you wouldn't think this is an economy that's still in QE and with negative rates. But it is what it is.

Anyway, EUR/USD still at session highs of 1.2345 as the dollar weakens on the back of Mnuchin's comments earlier. EUR/GBP is lower on the day as well at 0.8762 as sterling gains momentum posting fresh post-Brexit highs in cable at 1.4090.