Week ahead: Last full week of 2024 in the Financial Markets

Global markets enter the final whole week of December with a slowdown, with little relevant economic news and the Christmas holiday marking the calendar. Despite this, some events and indicators deserve attention, such as the UK GDP data and Bitcoin's performance, which continues to surprise investors.

Here are the week’s key events:

Monday, December 23rd: UK GDP and Bitcoin on the radar

The UK releases its GDP, an indicator that could bring volatility to the Sterling Pound. The previous reading was slightly positive, with growth of 0.1%, although it fell short of the expectation of 0.2%. The British economy is struggling to sustain a pace of expansion, influenced by lower-than-expected Industrial Production in October. The result is expected to bring more clarity on the current state of the UK economy. In the Crypto world, Bitcoin remains the highlight, accumulating an impressive increase of more than 100% since September 6. Now, two main questions arise: Will Bitcoin be able to maintain its uptrend in 2025, or will it retrace back? And when it retraces back, how far will it go?

Tuesday, December 24th: New Home Sales in the US

Home sales data will be released in the US, a key indicator for the housing sector. This data not only reflects the state of the housing market but also serves as a catalyst for the economy as a whole. New home purchases tend to boost related consumption, such as furniture and home appliances, which ultimately benefits adjacent sectors. This indicator will be closely watched as it may provide clues about future household consumption.

Wednesday, December 25th: Markets Closed

Most markets will be closed for Christmas, so no relevant data is scheduled.

Thursday, December 26th: US Initial Jobless Claims

While many countries are still on Christmas holiday, the United States will publish initial jobless claims, a weekly indicator that provides a snapshot of the labour market's health. Although trading volume is traditionally low during this period, data such as this can provide important insights.

Friday, December 27th: No news

Friday will be marked by the absence of significant economic data, which is typical in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Trading volume is expected to remain low, reflecting the impact of the festivities on the financial market.

When considering shares, indices, forex (foreign exchange) and commodities for trading and price predictions, remember that trading CFDs involves a significant degree of risk and could result in capital loss.

Past performance is not indicative of any future results. This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be construed to be investment advice.