- US housing starts and building permits fell in December.
- The US dollar index remains defensive around 102.00.
Monthly data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau showed Housing Starts fell 1.4% on a monthly basis in December, following a 1.8% drop in November.
Building permits fell 1.6% over the same period, compared to a 10.6% decline in November.
Market reaction
The data did little to impress US dollar bulls amid growing consensus that the Fed will ease its hawkish stance and growing bets on a smaller rate hike of 25 basis points in February.
