Durable goods orders exceed expectations – dollar higher

US durable goods orders rose by 0.7%. They were expected to rise by 3% and core orders were predicted to remain flat and they rose by 3.6%.

USD/JPY rose to 97.70 before dropping. EUR/USD is sliding towards 1.31.

This publication is not the most important figure on the calendar but every figure counts regarding the timing of tapering, which is a clear fact now after the recent dramatic Fed decision.

More figures will be released later in the day, with housing figures leading: the S&P Case Shiller HPI and the new home sales numbers. Also note the consumer confidence figure, which is expected to fall from the highs.

Update: EUR/USD fell off the 1.31 line in an extension to the falls. The S&P Case Shiller index exceeded expectations and rose by 12.1% year on year, better than 10.6% expected. The month over month rise was 1.7%. However, the official House Price Index dropped by 0.7%.

Update 2: Consumer confidence and new home sales exceeded expectations, giving another boost to the greenback.