• Prior 12.8
• Current conditions -77.3 vs -77.0 expected
• Prior -77.1
• Expectations 15.2
• Prior 12.8

The reading marks an improvement in German economic sentiment, with the expectations reading showing yet another decent bump higher. ZEW notes that the more upbeat take is due to more than half of the respondents assuming the ECB will cut interest rates in the first half of this year. Adding to that is two-thirds of respondents also anticipating rate cuts by the Fed in the next six months as well.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

The epicenter is one that strikes on land, though the maximum seismic intensity is 5- this time around (the town of Shika is the one most impacted). It’s been two weeks already and still, there is ongoing earthquakes and aftershocks hitting the Western Japan region so far in the new year. This one isn’t of much impact but it is something to at least be informed about just in case. From before:

• Magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Japan
• Aftershocks continue in Ishikawa as magnitude 4.6 earthquake reported
• Magnitude 6.0 earthquake reported in Western Japan region

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.