Russia Unemployment Rate below forecasts (2.2%) in November: Actual (2.1%)

India FX Reserves, USD up to $693.32B in December 15 from previous $688.95B

Singapore Industrial Production (YoY) registered at 14.3% above expectations (14.2%) in November

Singapore Industrial Production (MoM) fell from previous 11.5% to -10.2% in November

Japan Retail Trade s.a (MoM) down to 0.6% in November from previous 1.6%

Japan Industrial Production (YoY) dipped from previous 1.6% to -2.1% in November

Japan Retail Trade (YoY) above expectations (0.9%) in November: Actual (1%)

Japan Industrial Production (MoM) below forecasts (-2%) in November: Actual (-2.6%)

Japan Unemployment Rate meets forecasts (2.6%) in November

Japan Tokyo CPI ex Food, Energy (YoY) dipped from previous 2.8% to 2.3% in December

Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index (YoY) dipped from previous 2.7% to 2% in December

Japan Jobs / Applicants Ratio meets expectations (1.18) in November

Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food (YoY) came in at 2.3% below forecasts (2.5%) in December

Japan Construction Orders (YoY) climbed from previous -10.1% to 9.5% in November

Japan Foreign Investment in Japan Stocks declined to ¥-1234.8B in December 19 from previous ¥528.3B

Japan Foreign Investment in Japan Stocks fell from previous ¥528.3B to ¥-1B in December 19

United States 7-Year Note Auction: 3.93% vs 3.781%

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) holds modest gains against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, even as the Greenback trades firm amid limited movement as markets drift into holiday mode. At the time of writing, USD/CAD is trading around 1.3675, hovering near its lowest level since July 25.

United States 4-Week Bill Auction declined to 3.57% from previous 3.58%

Gold (XAU/USD) trades on the back foot on Wednesday after surging to a fresh all-time high near $4,526 earlier in the day. Volatility picked up amid thin holiday liquidity ahead of Christmas, encouraging mild profit-taking at elevated levels.

Russia Industrial Output came in at -0.7% below forecasts (1.2%) in November

The British Pound (GBP) softens against the US Dollar (USD) on Wednesday, with the Greenback finding mild support amid reduced liquidity during the shortened US holiday session.

Silver (XAG/USD) trades around $72.05 on Wednesday at the time of writing, up 0.70% on the day. The white metal extends its bullish momentum for a fourth straight day and reached a fresh all-time high at $72.71 earlier in the day, highlighting sustained investor appetite for precious metals.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Oil trades little changed on Wednesday as markets slip into holiday mode, with prices hovering near two-week highs amid thin liquidity.

There were 214,000 Initial Jobless Claims in the week ending December 20, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level, the US Department of Labor (DOL) reported on Wednesday. This reading came in better than the market expectation of 223,000.

United States Initial Jobless Claims came in at 214K, below expectations (223K) in December 19

United States Continuing Jobless Claims increased to 1.923M in December 12 from previous 1.897M

United States Initial Jobless Claims 4-week average declined to 216.75K in December 19 from previous 217.5K

The British Pound (GBP) trades slightly lower against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Wednesday, though thin holiday trading conditions are keeping price action contained within a tight range.

EUR/GBP trades in negative territory around 0.8725 on Wednesday at the time of writing, extending a sequence of declines that began earlier in the week. The pair remains under pressure as the Pound Sterling (GBP) benefits from the Bank of England’s (BoE) relatively hawkish communication.