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Indices in the Asia-Pacific region are recording a session without a clear direction. Indices in China are losing about 0.50-0.60%. The Japanese Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.40% higher, while the Korean Kospi and Australian S&P ASX 200 are recording a loss of around 0.40%.
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In the first part of today's forex market session, we also do not record major changes. The session was calm, and most currency pairs limit changes to a range from -0.10 to 0.10%.
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The dollar is among the stronger currencies, and among the weakest currencies is the Japanese yen (JPY). The USDJPY pair is recording an increase of 0.14% to the level of 144,760.
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North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells into the sea near the tense maritime border with South Korea on Friday. The rockets fell near the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, and residents were ordered to evacuate in the face of the first such case since November 2010.
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According to Politico, the American government is planning the US response to a wider, prolonged war in the Middle East. The military is developing plans to strike Iran-backed Houthi fighters who are attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, according to three American officials with access to confidential information.
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The Japanese PMI index for services for December is at 51.5, lower than the preliminary estimates of 52.0, but higher than 50.8 points in the previous month.
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Retail sales in Singapore performed slightly better than expected. Year-on-year data showed an increase of 2.5% y/y against a forecast of 2.2% y/y and -0.1% y/y previously.
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The PMI index from India for services showed exceptionally positive sentiments in the sector. The index in December was 59 points compared to 56.9 points a month earlier.
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Cryptocurrencies are recording slight declines after yesterday's increases due to potential acceptance of ETFs today. Bitcoin is trading -1.10% lower around 43700 USD, and Ethereum -0.80% lower at the level of 2250 USD.
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Yesterday's late-day increases were caused by analysts' reports about today's potential acceptance of ETF applications. The information is to be announced in the second part of the day.
Bitcoin remains in a consolidation channel as investors await the final information about the approval of ETFs by the SEC today. In both cases, we may witness greater volatility in the asset. Source: xStation 5.
