By FX Empire.com

Economic Events: (GMT)

WEEKLY

Crude Oil Fundamental Analysis March 2, 2012, Forecast

Crude Oil Fundamental Analysis March 2, 2012, Forecast

Analysis and Recommendations:

Crude Oil gained Thursday, starting March on a mildly positive note, cheering news that manufacturing in China expanded.

China’s manufacturing gained momentum; helped by strength in new orders, export demand and production, though inflation pressures remain a concern, according to a survey released on Thursday.

The state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers index, or PMI, rose 0.5 points to 51.0 from January’s 50.5 and December’s figure of 50.3 in a third straight month of steady improvement.

A higher-than-expected increase in U.S. inventories also added some pressure to oil prices on Wednesday.

Continued geopolitical worries continues to support crude prices, although the noise from Iran has subsided a bit, the US continues to exert pressures, which will see Iran retaliate. The markets continue to keep a close eye, although Saudi Arabia and the OPEC nations have assured the US and EU that they will make up any short falls.

March 1, 2012 Economic Releases actual v. forecast

CHF

GDP (QoQ)

0.1%

-0.1%

0.3%

GBP

Nationwide HPI (MoM)

0.6%

0.3%

-0.3%

CHF

SVME PMI

49.0

48.5

47.3

EUR

French Manufacturing PMI

50.0

50.2

50.2

EUR

German Manufacturing PMI

50.2

50.1

50.1

EUR

Manufacturing PMI

49.0

49.0

49.0

PLN

Polish GDP (YoY)

4.3%

4.2%

4.2%

GBP

Manufacturing PMI

51.2

52.0

52.0

EUR

CPI (YoY)

2.7%

2.6%

2.6%

EUR

Unemployment Rate

10.7%

10.4%

10.6%

USD

Core PCE Price Index (MoM)

0.2%

0.2%

0.1%

CAD

Current Account

-10.3B

-9.6B

-12.3B

USD

Personal Spending (MoM)

0.2%

0.4%

0.0%

USD

Initial Jobless Claims

351K

353K

353K

USD

Continuing Jobless Claims

3402K

3400K

3404K

USD

ISM Manufacturing Index

52.4

54.6

54.1

Sovereign Bond Auction Schedule

Mar 01 09:30 Spain Bono auction

Mar 01 09:50 France OAT auction

Mar 01 10.30 UK Auctions 4.0% 2022 conventional Gilt

Originally posted here