The guessing game about when the U.S. central bank will start withdrawing its stimulus programme enters a new round this week, as market are focusing on Wednesday's FOMC meeting.
During the last five years European policymakers have resisted to launch their own quantitative easing programme. After a recent cut of interest rates, Mario Draghi is unlikely to announce any additional liquidity injections during the next month.
Canada's factory sales increased to the highest level in more than a year in September as automakers presented new models and grain mills resumed production.
The Japanese Yen oscillated around the triple-digit territory on Friday, as investors weighed the testimony hearing of Janet Yellen and weaker-than-expected growth added to concerns the BoJ may add more stimulus soon.
Since severe financial crisis in the U.S., when investors and market participants were blaming Greenspan, officials have been prodding policymakers to address housing market.
The next Fed Chairman Janet Yellen already pledged to stick to plans to start withdrawing the stimulus programme in the coming months if the economy perks up.
The Eurozone economy expanded in the third quarter, however, only slightly. Figures from the Eurostat showed the GDP grew by a mere 0.1%, less than analysts expected and down from a figure recorded in the prior quarter.
It could be surprising, but the single currency was the main gainer last week, as it advanced 1.08% versus other major currencies.
"The minimum exchange rate is very important. It remains a crucial tool of our monetary policy in order to avoid a tightening of monetary conditions in Switzerland."- Thomas Jordan, SNB PresidentThe Swiss Franc lost some ground versus the single currency on Thursday, due to the weaker-than-expected producer prices inflation report. Even though some economists may consider that Alpine economy is
After a spurt of growth in the first six months of the year, the world's third largest economy seems to be running out of steam, as companies cut their capital spending, while exports failed to surge even despite weaker Yen.
The Sterling dropped to a session low on Thursday, while gilt futures advanced after data from the ONS showed an unexpected drop in the U.K. retail sales, as consumers cut their spending on household appliances, fuel and clothing.
While the Eurozone expanded less than expected in the third quarter, U.S. data disappointed as well, whereas Janet Yellen's statement was supposed to make markets more volatile.
What about another sharp drop of the Euro? After another set of disappointing data from the Eurozone, the single currency plunged, moving closer to 1.34, and in case it is breached, a retest of recent low around 1.3389 could be expected.
The Australian Dollar inched higher on Wednesday, as Westpac Melbourne Institute said Oz consumers are more upbeat on the economy on the back of half-century low interest rates and constantly rising property prices.
The decision to make a hike in consumption tax in April was made by the Japanese government after the economy went under scrutiny and Japanese leading economists said the economy will withstand the planned increase.
The Pound has been highly volatile during the last two days, led mostly by fundamental data.
One of the main functions of a central bank in any country is to maintain price stability by managing country's money supply.
While analysts believe EUR/USD would consolidate for some time after last week's sharp drop, latest fundamental data from the Eurozone is likely to push the common currency even lower.
The Australian Dollar plunged to the lowest level in six weeks against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday, hitting 0.9324, as traders were disappointed with weaker-than-expected business confidence, while separate report showed Australians are getting less optimistic about Tony Abbott and his pledge to revive the economy.
Shinzo Abe's ultra-loose monetary policy and other set of measures also known as Abenomics are boosting growth in the world's third largest economy, making investors more confident about economic prospects, hence, attracting more investment in the economy.
After months of strong data from the U.K., analysts expressed their views the economy would hit the 7% threshold in the unemployment rate significantly earlier, as the pace of expansion accelerates.
While some experts are trying to predict a possible date, when the Fed will start scaling back its unprecedented QE programme, others are weighing whether the massive bond-buying scheme was worth the cost.
The single currency extended a period of declines against other counterparts on Tuesday, after a report from German Federal Statistical Office unveiled disappointing inflation data, reflecting weak domestic demand and underscoring challenge for the ECB to increase inflationary pressure in the region.
Analysts all over the world are concerned that rapid price gains amid record-low interest rates are sparking fears of another housing bubble in countries starting from Canada to Sweden and China. Moreover, Britain's growth is considered by economists to be mostly led by a strong demand for property that was spurred by government schemes.