Euro zone January retail sales +0.3% m/m, flat y/y

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• Euro zone January retail sales +0.3% m/m, flat y/y
• EUR/JPY bounces from the 200 day MA
• EUR/USD bounces from trendline suppport
• Gold slips under $1700
• UK Feb PMI Shows Services Growth Slowing – CIPS/Markit
• ECB’s Paramo: The euro is not in crisis
• Eurozone March Sentix index -8.2 from -11.1 in February
• UK services PMI for February 53.8
• Rumour: Talk UK services PMI in February going to be 53.9
• EUR/USD slides, stops tripped, more seen
• ACB bids now in the AUD/USD
• Euro zone final composite PMI falls to final 49.3 in February
• Italy services PMI 44.1 in February
• Plateau oil meets 125m Chinese cars
• Ladies and gentlemen Matt has left the building….
• Swiss January retail sales up +4.4% y/y in real terms
• Spanish services PMI 41.9 in February
• EMU Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data Forecasts March 5th to 9th
• Germany Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data F-casts Mar 5th to 9th
• France Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data Forecasts Mar 5th to 9th

Euro zone January retail sales +0.3% m/m, flat y/y Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:03 AM PST Stronger than Reuter’s median forecasts -0.1%, -1.6% respectively.

EUR/JPY bounces from the 200 day MA Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:02 AM PST A few stops were triggered on the recent fall  through 107.00 to 106. 92, but the 200 day MA at 106.90 seems to be holding some decent technical support for now. We’re back up at 107.14. There are stops now set on a break down of 106.80,  and offers sit up at 107.35/45

EUR/USD bounces from trendline suppport Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:57 AM PST Trendline support circa 1.3156 held the earlier sell-off and we’ve bounced back to 1.3190 at writing. Sell stops now through 1.3150, buy stops through 1.3220.

Gold slips under $1700 Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:52 AM PST It’s dropped to 1695 just now  just ahead of the 100 day MA which sits at 1694 and should hold some technical support. There’s further support just below there at the 50/55 day MA’s at 1688.75 and 1681.25, with the 200 day coming in at 1676.00 The fall’s seen on the back of falling equities,  weaker EU data and a $1.5 drop in WTI April crude Gold’s sitting at 1695.50

UK Feb PMI Shows Services Growth Slowing – CIPS/Markit Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:50 AM PST LONDON (MNI) – The dominant UK services sector saw growth slow in February after the surge in January, the CIPS/Markit index shows. The headline service sector CIPS/Markit index fell to 53.8 in February from an unrevised 56.0 in January, well below analysts’ median forecast for a 55.0 outturn. The detail, however, was more encouraging showing a rise in business expectations and easing inflation pressure. Business expectations rose to their highest level for a year while output charges declined. Markit said sales were supported by discounting, with margins squeezed as input cost continued to rise. The survey showed a slight rise in service sector employment. Markit said the headline reading, still well above the 50 breakeven level was “indicative of a solid increase in service sector activity.” New service sector work increased for the 14th consecutive month. The February CIPS/Markit UK manufacturing sector survey. published last week, also showed slowing activity. The headline February manufacturing index fell to 51.2 from a revised 52.0 in January and below analysts’ median forecast for a 51.9 outturn. –London newsroom 0044 207 862 7491; email: drobinson@marketnews.com [TOPICS: M$B$$$,MABDS$]

ECB’s Paramo: The euro is not in crisis Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:47 AM PST This is a crisis of sovereign debt Anecdotal evidence suggests banks using 3 year LTRO to lend more

Eurozone March Sentix index -8.2 from -11.1 in February Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:33 AM PST Median was  -6.0, so a little worse than  expected, but EUR’s going nowhere at 1.3168

UK services PMI for February 53.8 Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:28 AM PST Well the rumour was darn close weren’t it As aforementioned below Reuter’s median forecast of 54.9 and down from 56.0 in January.

Rumour: Talk UK services PMI in February going to be 53.9 Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:21 AM PST So weaker than expected.  Release due 09:30 GMT. Median forecast is for 54.9 from 56.0 in January.

EUR/USD slides, stops tripped, more seen Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:18 AM PST Stops through 1.3170 are toast. EUR/USD been down to 1.3160. Russia notable seller in last leg lower. As mentioned trendline support comes in circa 1.3156. Talk of more sell stops through 1.3150.

ACB bids now in the AUD/USD Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:12 AM PST Morning all, Being told from reliable sources that there’s an Asian central bank sitting on bids at 1.0650/55 We’re at 1.0677 after  recent lows of 1.0671

Euro zone final composite PMI falls to final 49.3 in February Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:03 AM PST From flash 49.7. Down from 50.4 in January.

Italy services PMI 44.1 in February Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:44 AM PST Down from 44.8 in January and well below Reuter’s median forecast of 45.2. Lowest read since October. EUR/USD remains unchanged on day at 1.3190.  Bit like pulling teeth this morning. Anybody would think it was Monday…..

Plateau oil meets 125m Chinese cars Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:32 AM PST Love him or loathe him, latest from AEP at The Telegraph.

Ladies and gentlemen Matt has left the building…. Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:23 AM PST I think my posting of The Guardian piece was the last straw for the poor chap. We wish him well……

Swiss January retail sales up +4.4% y/y in real terms Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:19 AM PST Sounds pretty good. Compares with revised +1.7% in December.

Spanish services PMI 41.9 in February Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:13 AM PST Demonstrably lower than 46.1 in January and Reuter’s median forecast of 45.9. Eighth month of contraction, lowest read since November. More pain in Spain

EMU Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data Forecasts March 5th to 9th Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:10 AM PST Retail Sales – January - %mom %yoy Median Forecast -0.1 -1.5 High forecast 0.2 1.5 Low forecast -0.1 -1.5 Previous period -0.4 -1.6 - Number of responses 9 7 4Cast -0.1 -1.5 ABN Amro -0.3 n/a Barclays Cap. n/a -0.3 BNP Paribas -0.2 -1.6 Capital Economics 0.2 -1.2 Citi 0.1 n/a Danske Bank -0.3 n/a Standard Chartered 0.0 -1.5 UBS 0.0 1.5 West LB -0.1 -1.5 ———————————————————————– * Median is based on above forecasts and is not intended to represent a consensus. The survey was conducted on Friday, March 2. [TOPICS: MTABLE,M$GDS$,M$G$$$,M$XDS$,M$X$$$]

Germany Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data F-casts Mar 5th to 9th Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:10 AM PST Industrial Orders Industrial Output – January – – January - %mom %yoy %mom %yoy Median Forecast 0.5 -1.8 1.0 1.5 High forecast 2.1 1.7 2.8 3.5 Low forecast 0.5 -1.8 1.0 1.5 Previous period 1.7 0.0 -2.9 0.8 - Number of responses 17 10 17 8 4Cast 0.5 -1.8 0.7 n/a ABN Amro 2.0 n/a 1.5 n/a Barclays Cap. 1.0 -1.2 1.0 -0.2 BNP Paribas 0.3 -1.9 1.0 1.1 Capital Economics 0.5 -1.7 1.0 0.9 Citi 0.3 -1.9 2.8 2.9 Commerzbank 0.5 1.7 2.5 2.5 Danske Bank 0.8 n/a 0.0 n/a DZ Bank 0.5 n/a 1.0 n/a ING 0.5 -1.7 2.0 3.5 LBBW 2.0 n/a 0.7 n/a RBS 0.0 n/a 2.1 n/a Soc. Generale 0.4 -1.8 1.7 1.8 Standard Chartered -1.0 -3.2 1.0 0.7 UBS 0.5 -2.4 1.1 n/a West LB 2.1 n/a 1.5 n/a Westpac 1.0 n/a 1.0 n/a – Trade Balance Exports Imports E Bln (SA) – January – – January – %mom %mom Median Forecast 13.5 1.6 2.0 High forecast 14.0 3.0 3.0 Low forecast 13.5 1.6 2.0 Previous period 13.9 -4.3 -3.9 - Number of responses 4 5 2 Citi 14.0 n/a n/a Commerzbank n/a 3.0 n/a ING 13.5 1.5 1.0 LBBW 11.0 n/a n/a Soc. Generale 13.5 2.0 3.0 Standard Chartered n/a 1.6 n/a West LB n/a -0.8 n/a ——————————————————————— * Median is based on above forecasts and is not intended to represent a consensus. The survey was conducted on Friday, March 2. [TOPICS: MTABLE,M$GDS$,M$G$$$,M$XDS$,M$X$$$]

France Data: MNI Survey Of Econ Data Forecasts Mar 5th to 9th Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:10 AM PST Industrial Production – January - %mom %yoy Median Forecast 0.6 -1.1 High forecast 1.3 -0.4 Low forecast 0.6 -1.1 Previous period -1.4 -1.3 - Number of responses 8 6 ABN Amro 0.4 n/a Barclays Cap. 1.3 -0.4 BNP Paribas 0.1 -1.5 Capital Economics 0.5 -1.1 Citi -0.5 -2.1 Commerzbank 0.8 n/a Soc. Generale 1.2 -0.5 UBS 0.6 -1.0 ———————————————————————–