Daily Market Review - 27th March 2013‏

 | Mar 27, 2013 06:04AM ET

Today’s highlights:
  • GfK German Consumer Climate (Ger, 08:00 GMT)
  • French GDP (QoQ) (Fra, 08:45 GMT)
  • KOF Leading Indicators (CH, 09:00 GMT)
  • GDP (QoQ) + Business Investment (QoQ) + Current Account (GB, 10:30 GMT)
  • Italian 10-Year BTP Auction (Ita, 11:10 GMT)
  • Core CPI (MoM) (Can, 13:30 GMT)
  • Pending Home Sales (MoM) (U.S, 15:00 GMT)

Orders for U.S. durable goods climbed more than forecast in February the Commerce Department said yesterday in Washington as companies looked past budget squabbles and focused on expanding capacity to meet growing demand. Other reports showed sales of new homes in February capped the best two months since 2008 and residential real- estate prices rose in January by the most since June 2006. While, confidence among U.S. consumers fell more than forecast in March as Washington’s budget battle soured Americans’ views of the economic outlook.

Cyprus is on the verge of an unprecedented financial experiment: imposing controls on money transfers in an economy that doesn’t have its own currency. Countries from Argentina to Iceland have used similar measures in the past to defend against devaluation. Being part of the euro zone may make it harder for the Mediterranean island to enforce restrictions, as any money that leaves the banking system can be taken out of Cyprus without losing value.

EUR/USD: The EUR/USD was trading slightly lower at 1.28497 at the time of writing as concerns that debt- crisis contagion will spread threatened to sap confidence in the 17-nation currency bloc. Market sentiments remain fragile ahead of data forecast to show continued weakness in euro-area consumer sentiment. Events likely to affect the market are the GfK German Consumer Climate (Forecast: unchanged at 5.9), the French GDP (QoQ) (Forecast: unchanged at -0.3%) and Italian 10-Year BTP Auction. Later in the day, the U.S will release its MBA Mortgage Applications (WoW) and Pending Home Sales (MoM) (Forecast: -0.2% - Previous: 4.5%). Headlines and the latest developments in Cyprus will continue to affect sentiments and the markets. Investors should remain very cautious. The resistance level is at 1.28932 and the support level is at 1.28028.