The dollar’s trading down this morning, with the ICE U.S. dollar index off 0.4% at 76.98 despite relatively benign consumer price data — core CPI, less food and energy, was unchanged in November, versus the expected 0.2% increase, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
At the same time, other data points were relatively positive as well, with housing starts in November up 574,000, more than expected; the Mortgage Bankers Association reported the mortgage purchase index slipped 0.1% in November; and the U.S. current-account deficit rose to $108 billion in the third quarter from $98 billion in Q2.
Light sweet crude oil futures for delivery in January rose 92 cents, to $71.61 while Gold futures for delivery in January rose $16.20 to $1,138.70.
Next up: the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration’s report on U.S. petroleum status, at 10:30 AM, Eastern.
