*SCALPSWINGSTRADDLE*

[Zephyr]

Current Account
Released On 3/19/2014 8:30:00 AM For Q4:13
Prior Prior Revised Consensus Consensus Range Actual
Current Account $-94.8 B $-96.4 B $-88.1 B $-91.5 B to $-81.2 B $-81.1 B
Highlights
The nation's current account deficit, helped by stronger exports, narrowed sharply in the fourth-quarter, to $81.1 billion from a revised $96.4 billion in the third quarter. The gap on goods & services narrowed by $7.6 billion in the quarter to $113.9 billion. A big plus here is the balance on services, at a positive $57.9 billion for a $1 billion raise and reflecting strong demand for information and management services. Also helping was a $5.3 billion rise in the surplus on income and a $2.4 billion easing in the deficit on unilateral transfers. In more good news, the current account as a percentage of GDP fell a sharp 4 tenths to 1.9 percent.