Market Closing Update

MALAYSIAN shares ended higher on Wednesday with the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index adding 1.8 points to close at 1,768.63.

Some 616.55 million lots, valued at RM570.16 million were traded. Gainers numbered 315 while losers numbered 296.

KLSE IForex Recommendations

TRADING TIPS :

GBP/USD hit 1.5548 during European morning trade, the session high; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.5535, adding 0.08%. Cable was likely to find support at 1.5484, the low of December 23 and a 16-month low and resistance at 1.5667, the high of December 22.The dollar remained broadly supported after final data last week showed that U.S. gross domestic product rose 5.0% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations for a growth rate of 4.3% and up from 3.9% in the three months to June.The strong data fuelled further optimism over the strength of the U.S. economic recovery and added to expectations for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next year. Year-on-year, U.K. house prices rose 7.2% in December, below expectations for a 7.5% gain, after an increase of 8.5% the previous month.



INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Support: 1.5518
Resistance: 1.5567

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy GBP/USD Above 1.5570-TG:1.1.5590/1.5620 SL 1.5540
2. Sell GBP/USD Below 1.5515-TG:1.1.5495/1.5465 SL 1.5545

INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Immediate Support: 1.2138
Immediate Resistance: 1.2183

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy EUR/USD Above 1.2185-TG:1.2205/1.2235 SL 1.2155
2. Sell EUR/USD Below 1.2135-TG:1.2115/1.2085 SL 1.2165

KLSE Comex Recommendations

INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY NEWS :

 Crude futures closed up slightly Tuesday, getting some relief from a weak dollar but not making significant strides as traders prepared for the end of the year.The dollar is generally inversely related to the price of oil, and so a small the decline in the dollar index (DXY) may have lent some strength to crude oil, according Thomas Saal, an analyst with INTL Hencorp Futures. Saal said prices may have also been boosted as traders balanced their positions before the end of the year.The global benchmark Brent settled up 2 cents at $57.90. U.S. crude settled up 51 cents at $54.12 a barrel.Both measures hit 5-1/2-year lows yesterday before rebounding slightly.U.S. crude was supported slightly by news that the Obama administration took two long-awaited steps that could increase the amount of processed light crude that can be shipped under the 40-year-old ban on exports of most domestic crude.The reaction was muted because the measures were introduced during the holidays, said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital.

TRADING STRATEGY :

BUY GOLD ABOVE 1204 TARGET 1209 1215 SL 1198
SELL GOLD BELOW 1197 TARGET 1192 1186 SL 1203

KLSE Stock Recommendations

MARKET UPDATES :

Maybank (Cambodia) Plc has launched its latest service, Maybank Premier Wealth, to provide affluent customers in Cambodia personalised and comprehensive financial solutions.Maybank Premier Wealth was launched at a special ceremony in conjunction with the opening of Maybank’s 18th branch in the country, the banking group said in a statement .Maybank said the service’s customers would have dedicated Premier Wealth Relationship Managers to assist them with their banking needs and they will also have the exclusive opportunity to conduct their banking transactions in the privacy and comfort of the Maybank Premier Wealth Lounge, not only in Cambodia but also in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.



STOCK RECOMMENDATION :

BUY NOBLE GROUP AT CMP 1.130 TARGET 1.170 1.230 SL 1.080

Dow closes under 18,000 as U.S. stocks slip

U.S. stocks closed with moderate losses Tuesday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average back below 18,000 for the first time in about a week.

The S&P 500 SPX, -0.49% pulled back 10.22 points, or 0.5%, to finish at 2,080.35, a day after scoring its 53rd record close of the year. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.31% shed 55.16 points, or 0.3%, to 17,983.07, undercutting 18,000 after first clearing that mark on Dec. 23.

Dollar pulls back against yen, steadies against euro

The dollar lost ground versus the Japanese yen Tuesday, giving back recent gains as an upbeat year for the U.S. currency draws to a close.

Versus the yen, the dollar USDJPY, +0.16%  traded at ¥119.56 from ¥120.69 late Monday in New York. The U.S. currency has climbed 13.6% against the Japanese currency this year.

The euro EURUSD, -0.01%  meanwhile continued to plumb two-year lows versus the dollar, fetching $1.2155 in recent action, little changed from $1.2153 late on Monday. It has slumped 11.6% against the greenback this year.

The WSJ Dollar Index BUXX, -0.05% a measure of the dollar against a basket of major currencies, fell 0.42 point to 82.64. The ICE dollar index DXY, +0.02%  , a measure of the U.S. unit against a basket of six major rivals, slipped to 89.992 versus a late Monday level of 90.207.

The pound GBPUSD, +0.00%  exchanged hands at $1.5555, compared with $1.5518 on Monday.

Gasoline Market Update

Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for January RBF5, -0.56%  — the benchmark gasoline contract — was fractionally higher to settle at $1.45 a gallon.

Copper Market Update

High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, -0.07%  rose 3 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at nearly $2.86 a pound. Copper futures recently fell to their lowest level since June 2010.

Silver Market Update

Silver for March delivery SIH5, -0.16%  rose 50 cents, or 3.2%, to settle at $16.28 an ounce.

Platinum for April delivery PLJ5, -0.12%  rallied $16.60, or 1.4%, to settle at $1,219.30 an ounce. Palladium for March delivery PAH5, +0.30% declined $7.80, or 1%, to settle at $804.20 an ounce.

Gold settles back above $1,200 an ounce

Gold prices turned higher on Tuesday to top $1,200 before the final trading day of the year, more than reversing Monday’s losses.

Gold for February delivery GCG5, +0.11%  advanced $18.50, or 1.6%, to settle at $1,200.40 an ounce, after touching a high on the session of $1,210.90 an ounce.

Oil prices settle higher ahead of fresh supply data

Crude-oil futures bounced back Tuesday ahead of the release of weekly U.S. oil inventory data, after hitting fresh multi-year lows on oversupply concerns.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February CLG5, -1.11%  settled up 51 cents, or 1%, at $54.12 a barrel, snapping a three-session losing streak.

February Brent crude on London’s ICE Futures exchange LCOG5, -1.17% rose 2 cents to $57.90 a barrel.

Current Market Update

Here are the latest trading levels for Asia's major stock markets: 

Tokyo (Nikkei Average) closed for holiday 

 Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) up 0.4% (closed) 

 Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) up 0.7% (at break) 

 Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) down 0.1% (closed) 

 Seoul (Kospi) closed for holiday 

Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.2% 

 Taipei (Taiex) down 0.1%

Asian Market Update

Asian markets were set for a cautious close to 2014 on Wednesday as worries about Greece's future in the euro zone served as an excuse to take profits on popular trades.

The US dollar also ran into selling on its recent gains, while the euro got no respite as a host of European bonds yields fell to all-time lows after a shockingly sharp fall in Spanish inflation.

Trade was thinned by holidays in Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the Philippines, while many markets in Europe are either shut or finish early on Wednesday.

Among the scraps of data and indicators due in Asia is a final measure of December Chinese manufacturing activity from HSBC, though it is unlikely to cause a fuss unless wildly out of line with the preliminary reading of 49.5.

KLSE Malaysia Opening Market Update

MALAYSIA share prices opened lower on Wednesday with the FBMKLCI down 6.16 points to 1759.76.

Volume was 17.5 million lots valued at RM$7.5 million.

Gainers outnumbered losers 50 to 45.

Market Closing Update

MALAYSIAN shares ended lower on Tuesday with the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index slipping 1.58 points to close at 1,766.83.

Some 1.34 billion lots, valued at RM1.61 billion were traded. Gainers numbered 382 while losers numbered 402.

KLSE IForex Recommendations

TRADING TIPS :

GBP/USD hit 1.5586 during European morning trade, the pair’s highest since December 23; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.5573, adding 0.10%.The dollar remained broadly supported after final data last week showed that U.S. gross domestic product rose 5.0% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations for a growth rate of 4.3% and up from 3.9% in the three months to June.The strong data fuelled further optimism over the strength of the U.S.economic recovery and added to expectations for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next year. The pound found some support after data on Friday showed that U.K. GDP rose 0.7% in the third quarter, in line with expectations and down from a 0.8% growth rate in the three months to June.


INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Support: 1.5520
Resistance: 1.5586

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy GBP/USD Above 1.5588-TG:1.1.5608/1.5638 SL 1.5558
2. Sell GBP/USD Below 1.5517-TG:1.1.5497/1.5467 SL 1.5547

INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Immediate Support: 1.2163
Immediate Resistance: 1.2224

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy EUR/USD Above 1.2226-TG:1.2246/1.2276 SL 1.2196
2. Sell EUR/USD Below 1.2160-TG:1.2140/1.2110 SL 1.2190

KLSE Stock Recommendations

MARKET UPDATES :

Gunung Capital Bhd’s unit GPB Corporation Sdn Bhd has secured a RM165 million service contract from the Defence Ministry to provide transportation services for the National Service (NS) trainee programme. The tenure of the contract is from Dec 26, 2014 to Dec 25, 2017, the investment holding company which is involved in chartering out land-based transportation assets said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia.The company must provide passenger transportation for NS trainees and trainers by bus or coach for 82 camps, over nine months per calendar year, it said.This involves allocating five 44-seater buses for each of 80 NS camps, and eight 25-seater buses for each of two camps.

STOCK RECOMMENDATION :

BUY SAPURA-KENCANA ABOVE 2.41 TARGET 2.44 2.48 SL 2.36

KLSE Comex Recommendations

INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY NEWS :

Brent oil extended losses into a fourth session on Tuesday, with prices hovering close to a more than five-year low above $57 per barrel, as persistent worries about a global supply glut offset concerns about output disruptions in Libyan.However, forecasts for a 900,000- barrel drawdown last week in oil stocks in top consumer the United States, following a rise to highest recorded December level in the week ended on Dec. 19, checked losses in crude prices. Brent for February delivery fell 8 cents to $57.80 as of 0323 GMT, after tumbling to $57.37 in the previous session, the lowest level since May 2009.



TRADING STRATEGY :

BUY GOLD ABOVE 1189.25 TARGET 1194.25 1200.25 SL 1183.25
SELL GOLD BELOW 1183 TARGET 1178 1172 SL 1189

Euro slides to 2-year low on Greek election fear

The dollar gained ground on the euro and the Japanese yen Monday, with the European single currency trading at a two-year low as Greece prepares for snap elections on a tide of voter resentment against the terms of the country’s international bailout.

The euro EURUSD, -0.12%  fell 0.4% to trade at $1.2153, its lowest level since August 2012. Greek assets sold off after the country’s government failed to win support from lawmakers for its presidential candidate, triggering snap elections that are set for Jan. 25.

Versus the Japanese yen, the dollar USDJPY, -0.16%  was at ¥120.63, up from ¥120.38 late Friday in New York.

Uchida sees the dollar moving in a ¥119-¥121 range, he said.

The WSJ Dollar Index BUXX, +0.01% a measure of the dollar against a basket of major currencies, fell 2 basis points to 83.04. The ICE dollar index DXY, +0.05%  , a measure of the U.S. currency against a basket of six major rivals, rose 0.2% TO 90.207.

Copper Market Update

High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, +0.41%  declined nearly 1 cent to settle at $2.82 a pound. Copper futures recently fell to their lowest level since June 2010.

Platinum Market Update

Platinum for April delivery PLJ5, +0.49%  gave up $17.20, or 1.4%, to settle at $1,202.70 an ounce. Palladium for March delivery PAH5, +0.01% lost $6.60, or 0.8%, to settle at $812 an ounce.

Gasoline Market Update

Gasoline futures swung to a loss. Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for January RBF5, -0.19%  — the benchmark gasoline contract — fell 5.5 cents, or 3.7%, to settle at $1.45 a gallon.

Gold, silver fall as traders look to 2015

Gold prices pulled back Monday after some wide swings during Christmas week.

Gold for February delivery GCG5, +0.47%  fell $13.40, or 1.1%, to settle at $1,181.90 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Silver for March delivery SIH5, +0.45%  also fell, slipping nearly 37 cents, or 2.3%, to settle at $15.78 an ounce.

Oil prices see quickest 50% drop from top in 8 years

Crude-oil futures have now plunged 50% from their 2014 high, as prices swung lower again on Monday.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February CLG5, -0.41% fell $1.12, or 2%, to settle at $53.61 a barrel, after an early rally on reports of a fire affecting oil-storage terminals in Libya collapsed. That’s the lowest settlement since May 1, 2009. Earlier, the February contract traded as high as $55.74, or 1.8% higher than Friday’s settlement.

Current Market Update

Here are the latest trading levels for Asia's major stock markets: 

Tokyo (Nikkei Average) down 0.7% 

 Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 0.9% 

 Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.4% (at break) 

 Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) down 0.7% 

 Seoul (Kospi) down 0.7% 

 Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.2% 

 Taipei (Taiex) flat

Asian Market Update

Asian markets slipped on Tuesday following the previous day's healthy gains, while the euro struggled against the dollar as Greece plunged back into crisis, rekindling fears of a possible exit from the eurozone.

With investors winding down for the end of the year, Wall Street provided a mixed lead, although the S&P 500 topped out at a new record high.

Oil prices ticked up slightly but remain stuck near five-year troughs as ongoing worries about oversupply combine with concerns over the global economic outlook.

Tokyo fell 0.17 per cent, Hong Kong lost 0.19 per cent, Sydney shed 0.50 per cent, and Seoul eased 0.36 per cent and Shanghai gave up 0.41 per cent.

KLSE Malaysia Opening Market Update

MALAYSIA share prices opened flat on Tuesday with the FBMKLCI up 0.93 points to 1,769.34.

Volume was 157 million lots valued at RM$73.3 million.

Losers outnumbered gainers 117 to 110.

Market Closing Update

MALAYSIAN shares ended higher on Monday with the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index adding 3.97 points to close at 1,768.41.

Some 1.25 billion lots, valued at RM1.33 billion were traded. Gainers numbered 343 while losers numbered 376.

U.S. stocks: Futures fall, with Dow at risk of losing 18,000

U.S. stock futures were pointing to a lower and quieter start on Wall Street Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average at risk of losing its grip on the 18,000 handle it reached last week.

Futures for the Dow industrials DJH5, -0.26%  lost 27 points, or 0.2%, to 17,985, setting it on track to break a seven-day winning streak. 

Futures for the S&P 500 index SPH5, -0.20%  slipped 2.60 points, or 0.1%, while those for the Nasdaq 100 index NDH5, -0.12% slipped 2.50 points, or 0.1%, to 4,307.75.

Dollar nudges lower against yen in quiet trading

The dollar was a tad lower against the yen in quiet trading in Asia on Monday, with a mid-afternoon downturn in the Nikkei Stock Average providing a cue for some buying of the Japanese currency in otherwise directionless trading.

The dollar USDJPY, +0.10%  was at ¥120.32, from ¥120.38 late Friday in New York.

The euro EURUSD, +0.06%  was at $1.2181, from $1.2178, and at EURJPY, +0.18%  ¥146.58, from ¥146.61.

The WSJ Dollar Index BUXX, +0.12% a measure of the dollar against a basket of major currencies, was down 0.10% at 82.79.

Gasoline Market Update

Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for January RBF5, +0.82%  — the benchmark gasoline contract — rose 1 cent, or 0.6% $1.52 a gallon.

Oil futures edge higher on report of fire in Libya

Crude-oil futures edged higher in Asian trade Monday on reports of a fire at oil storage terminals at a Libyan oil terminal.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February CLG5, +1.10%  traded at $55.34 a barrel at last check, up $0.61 in the Globex electronic session. February Brent crude on London’s ICE Futures exchange LCOG5, +1.04%  rose $0.47 to $59.92 a barrel.

Nymex crude lost 4.20% last week and Brent crude was down by 3.14% last week. Both the oil benchmarks have fallen for five consecutive weeks.

KLSE IForex Recommendations

TRADING TIPS :

USD/JPY hit 120.19 during European afternoon trade, the pair’s highest since December 9; the pair subsequently consolidated at 120.14.The pair was likely to find support at 118.80, the low of December 19 and resistance at 121.00The U.S. dollar held steady against the yen on Tuesday, hovering at two-week highs and within close distance of a seven-year peak as expectations for a U.S. rate hike in 2015 continued to support demand for the greenback.The dollar remained broadly supported after the Federal Reserve signaled last week that it was on track to raise interest rates next year but said it was taking a patient stance.The yen shrugged off the Bank of Japan’s Monthly Report on Recent Economic and Financial Developments.


INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Support: 120.30
Resistance: 120.85

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy USD/JPY Above 120.90-TG:1.121.10/121.40 SL 120.60
2. Sell USD/JPY Below 120.25-TG:1.120.05/119.75 SL 120.55

INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Immediate Support: 1.1610
Immediate Resistance: 1.1650

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy USD/CAD Above 1.1655-TG:1.1675/1.1705 SL 1.1625
2. Sell USD/CAD Below 1.1605-TG:1.1585/1.1555 SL 1.1635

KLSE Comex Recommendations

INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY NEWS :

Oil prices rose on Monday, after dropping for the past two sessions, as escalating clashes in Libya stoked worries about supply from the OPEC member.A fire caused by fighting at one of Libya’s main export terminals has destroyed 800,000 barrels of crude – more than two days of the country’s output, officials said, amid clashes between factions battling for control of the nation..”Libya, and all the other problems, warrants some kind of risk premium,” said Jonathan Barratt, chief investment officer at Sydney’s Ayers Alliance. “Oil is at a level where people are happy to build in a risk premium,”

TRADING STRATEGY :

BUY GOLD ABOVE 1200 TARGET 1205 1211 SL 1194
SELL GOLD BELOW 1192 TARGET 1187 1181 SL 1198

KLSE Stock Recommendations

MARKET UPDATES :

Trading in the shares of Nakamichi Corporation Bhd will continued to remain suspended until further notice, said Bursa Malaysia.The local bourse said the company had failed to submit its quarterly report for the financial period ended September 30, 2014, for release within the stipulated timeframe.Bursa Securities shall suspend the trading in the securities of such listed issuer if it failed to issue the outstanding financial statements within five market days after the expiry of the relevant timeframes.


STOCK RECOMMENDATION :

BUY NOBLE GROUP AT CMP 1.115 TARGET 1.150 1.210 SL 1.085

Current Market Update

Here are the latest trading levels for Asia's major stock markets: 

Tokyo (Nikkei Average) down 0.1% 

Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) up 1.9% 

Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) up 0.9% (at break) 

 Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 1.3% 

 Seoul (Kospi) down 0.7% 

 Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.7% 

 Taipei (Taiex) up 0.9%

Asian Market Update

Asian markets mostly rose Monday on the first full day of trade after the Christmas break, with confidence boosted by Chinese easing measures and another Wall Street record.

Shares in AirAsia tumbled after one of the budget carrier's jets went missing with 162 people on board Sunday and had still not been found early Monday.

Tokyo added 0.31 per cent, Hong Kong jumped 1.48 per cent, Sydney rose 1.01 per cent and Seoul lost 0.51 per cent while Shanghai rallied 1.26 per cent.

KLSE Malaysia Opening Market Update

MALAYSIA share prices opened lower on Monday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index down 6.79 points to 1,757.65.

Volume was 229 million lots worth RM187.9 million.

Losers outnumbered gainers 215 to 108.

Dollar notches small gains against euro, yen

 The dollar edged up a notch against the yen and the euro Friday, but trading was expected to remain light in this post-Christmas session.

The dollar USDJPY, +0.00%  was at ¥120.39, from ¥120.15 late Thursday in North America. The euro EURUSD, +0.00%  eased to $1.21.78 from $1.2222.

The WSJ Dollar Index BUXX, +0.30% a measure of the dollar against a basket of major currencies, was up 0.3% at 82.74.

U.S. stocks: Dow industrials, S&P 500 close at records

Santa continued to shower gifts on stock-market investors, as the S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average once again closed at record levels.

The Dow industrials DJIA, +0.13%  closed 23 points, or 0.1%, higher at 18,053, their 38th record close of the year.

The S&P 500 SPH5, +0.33%  gained 6.89 points, or 0.3%, to 2,088.7, its 52nd record close. The Nasdaq Composite COMP, +0.70% gained 33.39 points, or 0.7%, to close at 4,806.8.

Natural Gas Market Update

Natural gas keeps falling: Rounding out the major energy trade, Nymex January natural gas NGF15, +0.13%  fell 2.3 cents, or 0.8%, to $3.007 per million British thermal units after briefly dipping below $3 earlier in the session. It is the lowest settlement since Sept. 25, 2012.

Natural gas hasn’t traded below $3 since 2012, according to FactSet. Warmer winter weather has been taking a toll on natural gas prices, which have tumbled more than 26% in December.

Natural-gas stockpiles decreased by less than analysts expected in data that was released on Wednesday.

Gasoline Market Update

Across other energy contracts, Nymex January gasoline RBF5, +0.12%  eased 0.3% to settle at $1.5087 a gallon, while January heating oil HOF5, -0.24%  slipped 0.4% to $1.92 a gallon.

Copper and Palladium Market Update

High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, -1.38%  was off 4 cents at $2.81 a pound.

Platinum for January delivery PLF5, +2.16%  jumped $27.30, or 2.29%, to $1,218.40 an ounce. Palladium for March delivery PAH5, +1.18% rose $10.15, or 1.26%, at $817.95 an ounce.

Gold finishes holiday week with a small loss

Gold prices finished a holiday-shortened week down three-hundreths of a percentage point as gains Friday failed to outweigh heavy losses earlier in the week.

Gold for February delivery GCG5, +1.93%  surged $22.10, or 1.88%, to $1,196.30 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange Friday, but remained down 0.04% for the week after a big selloff on Monday. Silver for March delivery SIH5, +2.39%  gained 43 cents, or 2.7%, to $16.14 an ounce.

Crude oil falls again, loses 4.2% for week

Crude-oil futures fell Friday, erasing earlier gains, and pushing down prices for the week for the fifth straight time.

New York Mercantile Exchange-traded February crude CLG5, -1.25%  settled $1.11, or 2%, lower at $54.73 a barrel, its second-lowest settlement of the year, after one hit last week. It fell 4.2% over the week, its fifth consecutive weekly drop, and has plunged more than 28% in that time, the biggest such drop in six years.

U.S. stock futures point higher

U.S. stock-index futures were quoted higher in electronic trade late Thursday, suggesting a higher start Friday for Wall Street. 

About 12 hours ahead of the open, futures for the S&P 500 SPX, -0.01% and Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% were quoted at levels implying a 0.2% gain for each.

Dollar flat against yen, euro amid thin trade

The dollar was largely unchanged against the yen and the euro in quiet trading in Asia on Friday, with the reduced number of market participants amid the holiday season avoiding any major moves.

The dollar USDJPY, +0.16%  was at ¥120.19 from ¥120.15 late Thursday in North America. The euro EURUSD, -0.16%  was at $1.2216 from $1.2222.

The euro EURJPY, +0.01%   was at ¥146.82 from ¥146.83.

The WSJ Dollar Index BUXX, +0.11% a measure of the dollar against a basket of major currencies, was up 0.07% at 82.52.

Gasoline and Gas Market Update

 Nymex January gasoline RBF5, +0.81%  rose 0.6% to $1.52 a gallon, while January heating oil HOF5, +0.72%  improved by 0.4% to $1.93 a gallon.

Rounding out the major energy trade, Nymex January natural gas NGF15, +0.59%  advanced 0.4% to $3.04 per million British thermal units.

Oil futures edge back up

After wild price swings in recent sessions, crude-oil futures took it slow in electronic trading early Friday, with both the New York and London benchmarks making relatively moderate gains.

New York Mercantile Exchange-traded February crude CLG5, +0.11%  improved by 0.5% to $56.11 a barrel on Globex, clawing back a bit of its 2.2% drubbing Wednesday when the market was heading into the Christmas holiday.

London-traded Brent North Sea crude for February LCOG5, +0.10%  also added 0.5% to trade at $60.54 a barrel after taking a 2.4% loss Wednesday.

KLSE IForex Recommendations

TRADING TIPS :

EUR/USD hit fresh two-year lows at 1.2165 before retracing to 1.2186, down 0.35% for the day.In a revised report, the University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index ticked down to 93.6 this month from a reading of 93.8 in November. Analysts expected the index to fall to 93.1 in December.The University of Michigan also said its inflation expectations for the next 12 months slipped to 2.8% in December from 2.9% the previous month.Separately, the U.S. Census Bureau said new home sales fell 1.6% last month to 438,000 units from a revised total of 445,000 units in October. .Data also showed that U.S. personal spending rose 0.6% in November, exceeding expectations for a 0.5% gain. U.S.Personal spending rose 0.3% in October, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 0.2% uptick.



INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Support: 1.2163
Resistance: 1.2206

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy EUR/USD Above 1.2210-TG:1.2230/1.2260 SL 1.2180
2. Sell EUR/USD Below 1.2160-TG:1.2140/1.2110 SL 1.2190

INTRADAY OUTLOOK
Immediate Support: 1.5525
Immediate Resistance: 1.5577

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Buy GBP/USD Above 1.5580-TG:1.5600/1.5630 SL 1.5550
2. Sell GBP/USD Below 1.5523-TG:1.5503/1.5473 SL 1.5553