Latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association for the week ending 9 April 2021
–  -5.1%
– Market index 667.7 vs 693.5 prior
– Refinancing index 2,916.7 vs 3,068.8 prior

JP Morgan earnings crushes the consensus
The firm’s trading desks had a great showing and soaring investment banking fees adds to the more upbeat results across the board. JPM CEO, Jamie Dimon, reflects on that in saying there is a „strong underlying performance across our businesses“.

EU budget commissioner, Johannes Hahn, says in a statement

Stock futures fall on the announcement
This being reported by the New York Times, as the FDA and CDC call for a pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six recipients were said to develop a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of the vaccination. More .

The market continues to wait on US inflation data later today
S&P 500 futures and Dow futures are now up 0.2% after having been relatively flat throughout the session with Nasdaq futures erasing losses of around 0.2% to keep near flat levels just above positive territory for now.

Latest data released by NFIB – 13 April 2021
– 95.8
US small businesses saw optimism grow as the index climbs to a four-month high in anticipation of stronger sales and expansion opportunities in the months ahead.

Latest data released by ZEW – 13 April 2021
ZEW notes that investors are somewhat less euphoric and fears of a stricter lockdown have led to a decline in expectations for private consumption.

Forex news from the European trading session – 12 April 2021
Headlines:
Markets:
– GBP leads, USD lags on the day
– European equities mixed; E-minis down 0.1%

Business Insider reports on the matter
The current set of restrictions was set to run through to 18 April and given the virus situation, this isn’t so much a surprise. We’ll see about the details later on and if Merkel will call for tighter measures such as nighttime curfews and such.

Remarks by German chancellor, Angela Merkel
The 7-day incidence rate continues to keep relatively high at 136.4 as of today and it has been trending in the wrong direction since early March – the target back then was to try and get that figure down to 50.0, just for some context.