• The U.S. dollar fell to a 3-1/2 week low against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as traders bet more major central banks will begin reducing monetary stimulus in 2018 because of faster global economic growth.
The dollar index has fallen 9.0 percent this year, putting it on track for its steepest annual decline since 2003, when it dropped 14.7 percent.
Conversely, the euro would have its best year against the greenback since 2003. The single currency EUR= reached a 3-1/2 week high of $1.1904 on Wednesday, Reuters data showed.
The dollar weakened against the yen for a second straight year. It held steady on the day at 113.26 yen JPY=.
• Bitcoin, down 4.31 percent at $15,055.13 BTC=BTSP on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange, struggled to rebound further after last week's rout. The biggest and best-known digital currency briefly traded below $15,000.
• Contracts to buy previously owned homes edged higher in November, boosted by job growth across a strengthening economy.
The National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday its pending home sales index rose to a reading of 109.5, up 0.2 percent from October.
• Japan’s industrial output rose more than expected in November and companies forecast a further increase in December as robust overseas demand continues to support factory activity and broader economic growth.
The 0.6 percent increase in industrial output in November was more than the median market projection for a 0.5 percent rise and followed a 0.5 percent gain in October.
• Oil prices dipped on Wednesday, as a rally ran out of momentum a session after crude hit a near 2-1/2-year high on supply outages in Libya and the North Sea.
Brent crude futures settled at $66.44 a barrel, down 0.9 percent, or 58 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $59.64 a barrel, down 33 cents, or 0.6 percent.
Reference: Reuters
Thai
Eng