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Johnson imposes 10-day hotspot arrival quarantine. Hopes to open schools in March

Comments from the UK PM

  • Hopes to reopen schools March 8
  • Says picture should be clearer in mid-Feb
  • We remain in a perilous situation
  • Will publish plan on exiting lockdown in week of Feb 22
  • Our aim will be to gradually phase out measures
  • Will not be possible to reopen schools immediately after Feb half-term
  • For arrivals who can’t be rejected from hotspot countries, will require a 10-day quarantine

US December prelim durable goods orders +0.2% vs +1.0% expected

Durable goods orders data

US December prelim durable goods orders
  • Prior was +1.0% (revised to +1.2%)
  • Durables ex transportation +0.7% vs +0.5% expected
  • Prior ex transportation +0.4% (revised to +0.8%)
  • Capital goods orders non-defense ex-air +0.6% vs +0.6% expected
  • Prior capital goods orders non-defense ex-air +0.5% (revised to +1.0%)
  • Capital goods shipments non-defense ex-air +0.5% vs +0.6% expected
  • Prior capital goods shipments non-defense ex-air +0.5%
The headline is soft but core orders were in-line along with a good-sized boost to the prior. Overall, this is another report that highlights that the manufacturing sector is in good shape.

Hydrogen is hot for green investment

Hydrogen

Hydrogen has a few key things going for it. Firstly, when it burns its burns clean, There are an ideal replacement for fossil fuels. Remember around 20% of all Co2 emissions come from industry.

Hydrogen 

Hydrogen could radically reduce this figure. For example hydrogen when removing the oxygen from Iron Ore creates water vapour rather than Co2.

Hydrogen could also be used as a clean solution for fuelling vehicles as well as heating buildings. Once again its clean usage makes it an ideal candidate.

How do you make Hydrogen?

The main technique is through electrolysis. Ideally that process itself would be funded by renewable energy like wind or solar. In this way the whole process can be become ’emissions free’ and hailed as a big win in the climate fight against Co2.

The drawback?

The cost. Current prices are around $2.50-4.50 per kg of green hydrogen. This cost needs to drop below $1 to start forming a competitive edge against fossil fuels

Storage: Hard to store, transport and deliver at present.

Who is involved?

Mitsubishi Power Americans Inc plans to build three hydrogen ready gas fired plants in the US.

Germany’s RWE plan to supply hydrogen to steel maker ThyssenKrupp AG.

UK’s ITM power, Ceres Power, and Norway’s Nel ASA are all listed as having a core business involving hydrogen tech.

ECB said to query dollar weakness despite stronger US economy

ECB concern about the EUR strength

ECB Lagarde after the meeting last week, spoke about the currency and how it’s strength was impacting inflation.
An ECB sources now on the wires saying that:
  • ECB said to query dollar weakness despite stronger US economy
  • Will study impact of ECB vs. Fed policy on exchange rates
The EURUSD has moved lower on the headline and as now moved back below its 100 hour moving average 1.21471.  The 200 hour moving average is down at 1.21296.
EURUSD on the 5 minute chart

European shares rebound from yesterday’s tumble lower

German DAX rises 1.7%

The major European indices are closing higher and rebounding from yesterday’s tumble lower. Provisional closes shows:

  • German DAX, +1.8%. Yesterday the German DAX fell -1.66%
  • France’s CAC, +1.2%. Yesterday France’s CAC fell -1.57%
  • UK’s FTSE 100, +0.3%. Yesterday the UK FTSE 100 fell -0.84%
  • Spain’s Ibex, +0.8%. Yesterday Spain’s Ibex fell -1.73%
  • Italy’s FTSE MIB, +1.1%. Yesterday Italy’s FTSE MIB fell -1.6%
in other markets as European/London traders look to exit:
  • Spot gold is trading down $1 or -0.06% at $1855.
  • Spot silver is up $0.21 or 0.84% a $25.56
  • WTI crude oil futures down $0.22 of -0.40% $52.56
  • Bitcoin is trading down $1027 or -3.14% at $31684
In the forex market, the NZD remains the strongest of the majors, while the USD is the weakest.  The USD as gotten weaker in the NY session but is marginally higher (off lows) since the US stock opening.
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