Unemployment Friday

Europe                                     Prior         Est        Act

Swiss Unemployment Rate (NSA)   3.6%           3.7%     3.8%

Swiss Unemployment Rate  (SA)    3.6%            3.5%     3.6%

EU Unemployment Rate                 10.1%         10.1%    10.1%

Unemployment Rate  of top four Nations:

France=9.8%   Germany=6.7%  Italy=8.7%   Spain=20.6%    


North America                    Prior            Est          Act
Change in  Canadian workforce      +15.0k         +20.3k    22.0k
Canadian Unemployment                7.6%           7.7%      7.6%

US Nonfarm payroll                       +71.0k (r)    +160k     +103k
US Private sector jobs                    +79.0k (r)    +180.0k    +113.0k
US Unemployment Rate                  9.8%            9.7%       +9.4%

These numbers show that the jobs recovery is creeping forward but a slower rate than predicted. The larger-than-expected drop in US the unemployment rate is thought to be caused by seasonal factors and by people who have given-up thier jobsearch because they feel that no jobs exsist for them

CFTC Monthly Futures Market Report Dec 2010 (Click to Link to CFTC site)

Change in Open Interest (Futures + Options)

WTI Crude +3.1%    Nat Gas -1.3%     Heating oil +2.6%    RBOB +3.8%

Corn +8.7%    Wheat +13.6%    Soybeans +2.3%

Sugar +10.6%    Coffee +17.4%    Cocoa +8.8%    Cotton +8.4%

Eurodollars -15.7%    T-notes +5.54     S&P 500 -23.8%

Gold -0.2%     Silver +5.9%     Copper +12.9%