The Ibex is encouraged and looks for 10,200 points

The European stock exchanges are taking a tone as the United States confirms a strong start of 2018, with new historical highs. The most outstanding reference, the minutes of the last meeting of the Federal Reserve (Fed), which raised the rates by 0.25%, showed division in the central bank regarding the number of rate increases for this year.

The Fed plans to raise rates another three times in 2018, which would end this year at 2-2.25%. However, the minutes reveal that to some members think that so many rises are "too many", but, in the other way, other members think that they are "very few". According to these, while "some participants indicated that they are not comfortable" with the three proposed increases for 2018, "a few other participants" are in favor of continuing with them. The sector opposed to the increases believes that, although these are gradual, they can be "inconsistent with the sustained return of inflation to 2%."

"The minutes of the FOMC meeting from December 12 to 13 were largely as expected and support our forecast of three rate hikes in 2018, with an upcoming rise likely at the policy meeting on March 20-21. The solid pace of economic activity, aided by the global backdrop, and the tightening of the labor market are key reasons to further raise rates in 2018, "say experts at Oxford Economics.

The minutes of the Fed met with closed European stock exchanges, so its content is being quoted this Thursday. Wall Street ended last session with increases of 0.6% on average while in Asia the Nikkei shot up on its first day of trading of the year, with increases of 3.26%. The rally in the Japanese index was favored by the good performance of technology companies after the rise of the Nasdaq in the United States. Tokyo Electron shot up more than 6% while Sony added 3%.

All in all, the European places bet this session by the green numbers. This is a day in which Catalonia returns to the scene waiting for the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to release Oriol Junqueras, former vice president of the Generalitat. As the month and year progresses, the issue of Catalonia seems to be regaining strength while waiting for government to form in the Autonomous Community.

Raw materials, and especially oil, continue to be protagonists at this beginning of the year. The Brent barrel is already trading above 68 dollars (68.14. + 0.44%) while West Texas has climbed to 62 dollars (62.12 dollars + 0.80%) as long as protests in Iran, which have already left 21 dead.

As for the data agenda for the day, this Thursday the PMI services for December are published in Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the Euro Zone. This reference will also be known in the United States. In addition, on the other side of the Atlantic the ADP employment report is published, a prelude to the December Employment Report that is known this Friday. In Spain there will be auction of bonds.