Major FX traded in subdued ranges (yen strengthened, more on this below) during the session here as traders awaited the US December CPI data due at 8.30 am US Eastern time today.

News and data flow were limited with only South Korea notable:

  • South Korea’s unemployment rate rose to the highest level in more than three years
  • South Korea’s impeached President Yoon has been arrested

More on these in the points above.

We did have European Central Bank Chief Economist Lane speaking in Hong Kong. He expects inflation in the eurozone to decline further, with lower interest rates ahead also.

I posted this earlier in the week

– a guide to expectations for the US CPI data. Check out the ‘range’ post above for the distribution of forecasts.

us cpi forecasts 14 January 2025 2

Bank of Japan Governor Ueda said that if improvement in economy and price conditions continues the Bank will raise rates. USD/JPY dipped on his comments at a Bank Branch managers meeting.

ueda yen USD jpy 15 January 2025  2