Gold Prices Slip From Two-Month High as Inflation and Fed Outlook Drive Markets 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Gold Prices Slip From 10-Week High as Fed and Hormuz Risks Shape Outlook 
KOSPI Eyes Best Weekly Gain Since June as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally 
US Dollar Slips as Weak Retail Sales Reduce Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Soft US Inflation Weighs on Dollar 
Oil Prices Slide as OPEC, IEA Cut 2026 Demand Forecasts 
Trump Imposes New Tariffs on Drone Imports Over US Security Concerns 
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX 
FxWirePro: Daily Commodity Tracker - 21st March, 2022 
Asian Currencies Steady Ahead of US CPI as Oil Prices Rise 
Barclays Warns U.S. Stock Rally May Be Detached From Fundamentals 
Asian Stocks Rise as AI Chip Rally Lifts South Korea, Japan 
Add as a preferred source on Google
The UK gilts lost ground Thursday after the country’s retail sales for the month of November cheered market expectations. Also, investors are curiously awaiting the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy decision, scheduled later today for further direction in the debt market.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, rose nearly 1 basis point to 1.22 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields hovered around 1.78 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year traded nearly 1-1/2 basis points higher at 0.49 percent by 09:45GMT.
Despite rising inflation and slow wage growth, retail sales volumes were 1.6 percent higher than a year earlier, up from a flat performance in October and beating all forecasts in a Reuters poll that had pointed to the annual growth of just 0.3 percent as shoppers took advantage of Black Friday bargains.
The final MPC meeting this year concludes today. And having last month raised Bank Rate to 0.5 percent, there seems no chance of a change in policy this time around. Despite Tuesday’s increase in the annual CPI rate to 3.1 percent y/y in November, policymakers are likely to acknowledge that, in the round, recent inflation figures have not been quite as strong as they had previously expected.
In addition, there is significant uncertainty about the strength of GDP growth in the current quarter, with business surveys and consumer spending indicators sending mixed signals. And while the first-phase Brexit deal, which is expected to be approved by EU leaders at their summit which starts later today, has reduced the tail risks of a disorderly Brexit, uncertainty related to the UK’s future relationship with the EU persists.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 traded 0.17 percent lower at 7,483.75 by 09:45 GMT, while at 09:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained slightly bullish at 86.17 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest
