Today’s US reports had a limited impact on financial markets. Jobless claims dropped more-than-expected to 238K, while factory orders rose 0.2% (below the 0.4% expected). The key data of the week will be released tomorrow: the Non-farm payroll report. The latest economic numbers from the US offered some support to the USD against the yen. Yesterday, the Federal Reserve, as expected, left interest rate unchanged. In the statement, the central bank said that the slowdown during the first quarter is “likely to be temporary”, leaving the doors wide open for a rate hike in June. The FOMC statement gave support to the US dollar and also pushed yields to the upside. The 10-year yield, that was below 2.30% before the Fed’s decision, today reached 2.36%, the highest in almost a month.
