This week Ben S. Bernanke will have the final opportunity to provide his own spin on the seven-year run leading the U.S. central bank, as well as starting tapering the stimulus programme or at least shed some light on future steps.
The fragile economic amelioration in the 17-nation bloc is ending the 2013 year on a high as data from the manufacturing sector came significantly stronger than expected, as always led by the region's powerhouse, Germany.
The Canadian Dollar is likely to lose ground versus its major peers as Canadian central bank claimed rates will remain on hold for some time, as policy makers assessing risks of a sharp correction in property value against the threat of subdued inflation.
The Japanese Yen plunged to the lowest level in more than five years against the greenback as U.S. politicians passed the 2014 budget, avoiding another government shutdown.
Britain's house price rocketed to a record high in November, as strengthening demand is pushing values higher, Acadametrics said.
Inflationary pressure in the world's largest economy is weak.
It seems that the Eurozone economy has finally stabilized.
Ahead of the key FOMC meeting the risk-on sentiment prevailed in financial markets, with the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, Australian and New Zealand Dollars being among most volatile currency pairs.
In December a poll conducted by Bloomberg showed that 64% of economists expect the Swiss National Bank to remove the cap after the first quarter of 2015.
AUD/NZD currency pairs is still one of the main losers, as Australian jobless rate rose for a second consecutive month, while the Reserve Bank of New Zealand stepped up its inflation-fighting rhetoric and pledged to start increasing interest rates in the first half of 2014, sending the kiwi higher.
The Pound received a fresh boost on Thursday, with the cable climbing above 1.64, after the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) unveiled its latest growth forecast.
With less than one week left before the key FOMC meeting, where the Fed can start tapering its stimulus programme, each report has more weigh on markets.
Another sign the 17-nation bloc is still struggling to build up momentum occurred on Thursday, as the EU statistics agency said that industrial output shrank unexpectedly in October.
The Swiss National Bank is determined to defend its cap on the Swiss Franc, imposed in September 2011, for as long as it is necessary.
After weaker-than-expected growth figures, falling output at nation's factories, as well as just slight improvement in consumer mood, Wednesday's report provides some relief to Shinzo Abe, as machinery orders ticked up in October.
The latest economic indicators are pointing towards a noticeable and increasingly broader revival of the British economy, and it is not a question that government measures and central bank's policies are contributing to the growth.
The U.S. President Barack Obama has suffered a serious political damage on Wednesday, as a new survey from the Wall Street Journal/NBC News showed the disapproval of Obama's job performance hit an all-time high of 54%.
While the single currency climbed to its highest level in six weeks against the U.S. Dollar amid key FOMC meeting next week, European leaders are moving closer to a deal that is likely to stabilize region's financial sector, minimize risks of another financial crisis in the future and inject new impetus into the European economy.
Weaker investment into mining sector is resulting in a loss of working places, and a deterioration of the labour market is leading to a drop in business sentiment.
Following the disappointing GDP figures, more pressure on Shinzo Abe came from manufacturing sector and consumers, as output at Japanese factories slowed, while mood among Japanese consumers improved less than expected.
The Pound traded flat against the greenback on Tuesday, retreating from more than a three-month high after data showed bigger-than-expected trade gap, while manufacturing production came in line with analysts' forecasts.
U.S. budget negotiators reached a deal on Tuesday that could end three years of fiscal crisis, which culminated with the partial shutdown of the federal government in October.
While fundamental data from Europe is lifting the single currency just slightly higher, the currency receives a long-term impact from the ECB President, Mario Draghi.
Another sign Swiss fundamental data is almost not influencing market's behaviour occurred on Monday, after figures showed the labour market is still resilient, while retail sales advanced in October, albeit at a slower pace than it was predicted.