Market Information Friday 19 January 2024

According to government data released on Friday, consumer prices in Japan rose less in December compared to the previous month. The annual inflation rate, including the effects of fresh food and energy, stood at 2.6%, lower than the 2.8% reported a month earlier. Excluding the impact of price changes in fresh food, the year-on-year inflation rate was 2.3%, compared to 2.5% in the previous month. These figures align with economists’ expectations, who had also predicted an inflation rate of 2.3%. Inflation has now remained above the Bank of Japan’s targeted level of 2% for twenty consecutive months.

On Thursday, a large majority of the Senate in the United States approved a temporary budget measure that covers government funding until March, averting a shutdown on Friday. The Senate voted 77 in favor to 18 against the measure. This marks the third time a temporary budget has been passed for the fiscal year 2024, which began in October.

On Thursday, Statistics Netherlands reported that unemployment in the Netherlands increased slightly in December. On a monthly basis, the unemployment rate rose from 3.5% to 3.6%, which also represents the annual average for the entire year 2023. Throughout the year 2023, the average number of unemployed individuals slightly increased compared to the previous year, from 350,000 to 359,000. The net labor force participation rate increased in 2023 to 73.1, compared to 72.2 in 2022.

The 6M Euribor decreased with 1 basis point to 3.86% compared to previous business day. The 10Y Swap increased with 4 basis points to 2.73% compared to previous business day.

In the attachment, today’s market data on money and capital market rates as well as other rates are presented.