Stock Futures Dip as S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs Amid Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Iran Tightens Grip on Strait of Hormuz as Oil Prices Surge 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire, Easing Market Tensions 
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX 
KOSPI Hits Record High as AI Chip Demand Lifts SK Hynix and Samsung Stocks 
Bank of Japan Signals Potential Rate Hike as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Shock 
USDA Plans to Expand Farmer Surveys to Improve Crop Report Accuracy 
Global Energy Crisis: Iran Conflict Triggers Record Oil Supply Shock 
U.S. Freezes Dollar Transfers to Iraq, Pressures Government Over Iran-Backed Militias 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Persist 
The trend in calendar-adjusted IP levels in CEE countries remains stable so far. Some of the latest dips represent recent month-on-month declines, but these are not sharp enough to raise questions about the trend.
Earlier in the month, we saw stable Polish data even after months of decline in the Polish PMI and GDP data this week is also likely to show a robust 3.8% y/y increase. Hungarian IP data for December record a strong 9.4% y/y increase in headline terms, although falling 0.7% m/m after seasonal and working day adjustments.
However, PMI's have been declining in key countries such as Poland and Turkey for several quarters now and is edging lower in Hungary as well. Whether the data merely reflects geo-political risk perceptions rather than demand conditions is yet to be confirmed.
"We remain vigilant for signs of deceleration based on what we have observed with the German Ifo, but for now, the hard data remain supportive of CEE exchange rates." notes Commerzbank in a research note.
