Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said in an interview with FOX Business Network on Thursday that the Fed should be careful making its interest rate decision.

"Given what we've seen recently, I think we just have to wait and see. I don't want to take too much signal from something that could turn out to be noise. I don't want to overreact to short-term data that may not in the long term really turn out to be significant for that kind of a decision," she said.

George noted that it's important to understand this week's stock market volatility.

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City president pointed out that the normalization process should begin.

"So after a disappointing first quarter, it looks like we're back on track. We'll probably do another two percent growth. The labour markets continue to show great health, I think. We've had over 200,000 jobs per month for 15 of the last 17 months. That is great sign, I think. And so as consumers spend, as they gain more confidence, as low oil prices seed through to them, my outlook is for continued growth. And I think in that context, it's time for us to talk about normalization," George said.

George is not a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its pending home sales figures for the U.S. on Thursday. Pending home sales in the U.S. rose 0.5% in July, after a 1.7% drop in June. June's figure was revised down up a 1.8% decline.

The increase was partly lead by gains gain in the Northeast.

"Homeowners looking to sell this spring appear to be in the driver's seat, as there are more buyers competing for a limited number of homes available for sale. As a result, home prices are up and accelerating in many markets," the NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun said.

He pointed out that the U.S. housing market can handle interest rates well above 4%.

"The housing market can handle interest rates well above 4 percent as long as inventory improves to slow price growth and underwriting standards ease to normal levels so that qualified buyers - especially first-time buyers - are able to obtain a mortgage," Yun noted.

The European Central Bank (ECB) Executive Board Member Benoit Coeure said on Thursday that the Eurozone is irreversible project.

"The exit of a member country would inevitably lead economic actors to wonder who would be next, with all the potential destabilising effects that such speculation could entail. The genie will not be put back in its bottle once and for all until it is clear that such a risk will not rear its head again," he said.

Coeure also said that low energy prices and an accommodative monetary policy alone will not be enough to boost the economic growth and to combat unemployment.

"Monetary policy can support growth but it cannot create it in a lasting way. And the effectiveness and legitimacy of euro area governance will not be increased by placing excessive demands on the central bank-quite the opposite," he said.

The head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Klaus Regling, said on Thursday that a Greek exit from the Eurozone is possible if Greece does not fulfil the conditions of its third bailout programme.

"This threat as a possibility must always be there and is still there," he said.

Regling ruled out the debt "haircut", but noted that talks about debt relief in autumn are possible.

He also said that he expects the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to participate in the third Greek bailout programme.

Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday that the latest policy action by the People's Bank of China (PBoC) will add liquidity to the financial system, but it also points to the weakness in the domestic economy.

"On balance, we expect the latest policy action to be positive for Chinese banks from a liquidity perspective," Frank Wu, a Moody's analyst, said.

"This will alleviate upward pressure on interbank borrowing rates and ease interbank rate volatility. But the latest policy move is symptomatic of further weakness in the domestic economy and the challenging operating environment for banks," he added.

EUR/USD: $1.1200(E687mn), $1.1220-30(E596mn), $1.1350(E311mn), $1.1400(E346mn)

USD/JPY: Y117.05($500mn), Y122.75($2.48bn), Y123.70($600mn), Y125.00($1.25bn)

EUR/JPY: Y137.00(E239mn

AUD/USD: $0.7000(A$400mn), $0.7050(A$299mn), $0.7250(A$201mn), $0.7300(A$241mn)

NZD/USD: $0.6325(NZ$2.49bn)

USD/CAD: C$1.3200($425mn)

China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that the country has relaxed its real estate investment rules for foreigners. Foreign individuals and companies can buy as many properties as they want, as long as it is within the limits of local housing purchase.

Foreign investors should not pay their registered capital in full before borrowing local loans anymore.

The U.S. Commerce Department released gross domestic product (GDP) figures on Thursday. The U.S. revised GDP climbed 3.7% in the second quarter, exceeding expectations for a 3.2% increase, up from the preliminary estimate of a 2.3% rise.

The upward revision was partly driven by an upward revision to inventories.

Consumer spending rose by 3.1% in the second quarter, up from the previous estimate of a 2.9% increase.

Business investment increased 3.2% in second quarter, up from the preliminary estimate of a 0.6% decline.

Exports climbed 5.2%, while imports were up 2.8%.

The Personal consumer expenditures (PCE) price index rose 2.2% in the second quarter, in line with expectations, after a 2.0% drop in the first quarter. The PCE price index excluding food and energy costs increased 1.8%, in line with expectations, after a 1.0% rise in the first quarter.

The PCE price index is the Fed's preferred gauge for inflation.

These figures could mean that the interest rate hike by the Fed this year is still possible.

The U.S. Labor Department released its jobless claims figures on Thursday. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending August 22 in the U.S. fell by 6,000 to 271,000 from 277,000 in the previous week.

Analysts had expected the number of initial jobless claims to be 274,000.

Jobless claims remained below 300,000 the 17th straight week. This threshold is associated with the strengthening of the labour market.

Continuing jobless claims rose by 13,000 to 2,269,000 in the week ended August 15.

Economic calendar (GMT0):

(Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual)

01:30 Australia Private Capital Expenditure Quarter II -4.7% Revised From -4.4% -2.5% -4.0%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index, y/y August 3.5% 3.1% 3.2%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index August 0.4% 0.4% 0.3%

08:00 Eurozone Private Loans, Y/Y July 0.6% 0.8% 0.9%

08:00 Eurozone M3 money supply, adjusted y/y July 5.0% 4.9% 5.3%

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against the most major currencies ahead the release of the U.S. economic data. The U.S. revised GDP is expected to rise 3.2% in second quarter, up from the previous estimate of a 2.3% gain.

The number of initial jobless claims in the U.S. is expected to decline by 3,000 to 274,000.

The euro traded lower against the U.S. dollar despite the mostly positive economic data from the Eurozone. M3 money supply rose 5.3% in July from last year, beating expectations for a 4.9% gain, after a 5.0 % increase in June.

Loans to the private sector in the Eurozone climbed 0.9% in July from the last year, exceeding expectations for a 0.8% rise, after a 0.6% gain in June.

German import prices declined by 1.7% in July from last year, after a 1.4% fall in June. On a monthly base, import prices decreased 0.7% in July, after a 0.5% fall in June.

Export prices in Germany climbed 1.2% year-on-year in July, after a 1.3% increase in June. On a monthly base, export prices were up 0.1% in July, after a 0.1% decline in June.

Spain's economy expanded 1.0% the second quarter, after a 0.9% growth in the first quarter. It was the fastest growth since the first quarter of 2007.

It was the eighth consecutive increase.

On a yearly, GDP grew 3.1% in the second quarter, after a 2.7% in the first quarter. It was the fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2007.

The French manufacturing confidence index increased to 103 in August from 102 in July.

The British pound traded lower against the U.S. dollar in the weaker-than-expected housing market data from the U.K. UK house prices were up 0.3% in August, missing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a 0.4% increase in July.

On a yearly basis, house prices fell to 3.2% in August from 3.5% in July, beating expectations for a fall to 3.1%. It was the lowest increase since June 2013.

"However, with UK house building running well below the expected rate of household formation in recent years and with demand for homes rising, a significant increase in construction activity is required if affordability is not to become stretched in the years ahead," Nationwide's chief economist, Robert Gardner, said.

The Swiss franc traded lower against the U.S. dollar. Swiss industrial production dropped 2.5% in the second quarter from a year earlier, after a 0.5% fall in the first quarter.

The output in manufacturing plunged 3.0% in the second quarter, energy output climbed 1.5%, and the production in the construction sector was down 2.5%, while the output in mining and quarrying dropped 5.5%.

EUR/USD: the currency pair declined to $1.1274

GBP/USD: the currency pair fell to $1.5430

USD/JPY: the currency pair rose to Y120.54

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

12:30 U.S. Continuing Jobless Claims August 2254 2250

12:30 U.S. PCE price index, q/q (Revised) Quarter II -2% 2.2%

12:30 U.S. PCE price index ex food, energy, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 1% 1.8%

12:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims August 277 274

12:30 U.S. GDP, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 0.6% 3.2%

17:00 U.S. Jackson Hole Symposium

23:05 United Kingdom Gfk Consumer Confidence August 4 4

23:30 Japan Household spending Y/Y July -2.0% 1.3%

23:30 Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index, y/y August 0.2%

23:30 Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food, y/y August -0.1% -0.2%

23:30 Japan Unemployment Rate July 3.4% 3.4%

23:30 Japan National Consumer Price Index, y/y July 0.4% 0.2%

23:30 Japan National CPI Ex-Fresh Food, y/y July 0.1% -0.2%

23:50 Japan Retail sales, y/y July 0.9% 1.1%

EUR/USD

Offers 1.1325 1.1340 1.1355-60 1.1380 1.1400 1.1425 1.1450

Bids 1.1300 1.1275-80 1.1260 1.1250 1.1225-30 1.1200 1.1185 1.1150

GBP/USD

Offers 1.5500-05 1.5520 1.5550 1.5580-85 1.5600 1.5625 1.5650

Bids 1.5455-60 1.5435 1.5420 1.5400 1.5385 1.5350

EUR/GBP

Offers 0.7325 0.7345-50 0.7365 0.7380-85 0.7400 0.7420 0.7445-50

Bids 0.7280-85 0.7265-70 0.7250 0.7230 0.7200

EUR/JPY

Offers 136.00 136.25 136.50 137.00 137.50 137.80 138.00

Bids 135.50 135.20 135.00 134.80 134.50 134.00

USD/JPY

Offers 120.65 120.80 121.00 121.25-30 121.50 121.75-80 122.00

Bids 120.20 120.00 119.80-85 119.50 119.25-30 119.00 118.85 118.50

AUD/USD

Offers 0.7150-55 0.7175 0.7200 0.7220-25 0.7250 0.7265 0.7285 0.7300

Bids 0.7120 0.7100 0.7075-80 0.7050 0.7000 0.6950

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Wednesday that a slowdown in Chinese economy should not have a negative impact on Japan's exports. He added that China's economy is likely to slow further.

Kuroda also said that there is no need for further easing of monetary policy to achieve the 2% inflation target, but the central bank could add further stimulus measures if needed.

"At this stage, we have no concrete proposal for further accommodation. But if necessary, we will certainly make necessary adjustment," the BoJ governor said.

Kuroda noted that an interest rate hike by the Fed would have a positive impact on the global and Japanese economies.

The Spanish statistical office INE released its final gross domestic product (GDP) for Spain. Spain's economy expanded 1.0% the second quarter, after a 0.9% growth in the first quarter. It was the fastest growth since the first quarter of 2007.

It was the eighth consecutive increase.

On a yearly, GDP grew 3.1% in the second quarter, after a 2.7% in the first quarter. It was the fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2007.

EUR/USD: $1.1200(E687mn), $1.1220-30(E596mn), $1.1350(E311mn), $1.1400(E346mn)

USD/JPY: Y117.05($500mn), Y122.75($2.48bn), Y123.70($600mn), Y125.00($1.25bn)

EUR/JPY: Y137.00(E239mn

AUD/USD: $0.7000(A$400mn), $0.7050(A$299mn), $0.7250(A$201mn), $0.7300(A$241mn)

NZD/USD: $0.6325(NZ$2.49bn)

USD/CAD: C$1.3200($425mn)

The Swiss Federal Statistical Office released its industrial production data for Switzerland on Thursday. Swiss industrial production dropped 2.5% in the second quarter from a year earlier, after a 0.5% fall in the first quarter.

The output in manufacturing plunged 3.0% in the second quarter, energy output climbed 1.5%, and the production in the construction sector was down 2.5%, while the output in mining and quarrying dropped 5.5%.

The French statistical office Insee released its manufacturing confidence index for France on Thursday. The French manufacturing confidence index increased to 103 in August from 102 in July.

Past change in production index plunged to 6 in August from 9 in July.

Personal production expectations index rose to 7 in August from 5 in July, while general production outlook index climbed to 3 in August from 0 in July.

The Nationwide Building Society released its house prices data for the U.K. on Thursday. UK house prices were up 0.3% in August, missing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a 0.4% increase in July.

On a yearly basis, house prices fell to 3.2% in August from 3.5% in July, beating expectations for a fall to 3.1%. It was the lowest increase since June 2013.

"However, with UK house building running well below the expected rate of household formation in recent years and with demand for homes rising, a significant increase in construction activity is required if affordability is not to become stretched in the years ahead," Nationwide's chief economist, Robert Gardner, said.

The European Central Bank (ECB) released its M3 money supply figures on Thursday. M3 money supply rose 5.3% in July from last year, beating expectations for a 4.9% gain, after a 5.0 % increase in June.

Loans to the private sector in the Eurozone climbed 0.9% in July from the last year, exceeding expectations for a 0.8% rise, after a 0.6% gain in June.

The lending to households jumped 1.9% year-on-year in July from 1.7% in June.

Destatis released its import prices data for Germany on Thursday. German import prices declined by 1.7% in July from last year, after a 1.4% fall in June.

Import prices decline since January 2013.

On a monthly base, import prices decreased 0.7% in July, after a 0.5% fall in June.

On a yearly base, import prices excluding crude oil and mineral oil products climbed by 2.5% in July.

Export prices climbed 1.2% year-on-year in July, after a 1.3% increase in June.

On a monthly base, export prices were up 0.1% in July, after a 0.1% decline in June.

The European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council Member Ardo Hansson said on Wednesday that Greece's outlook is slightly brighter now and the volume of ELA (Emergency Liquidity Assistance) may decline.

"The agreement negotiated during the Eurozone summit in mid-July, restart of negotiations and reasonable easing of capital controls helped to increase the confidence of depositors so that the deposits' outflow from Greece was replaced with a small inflow, and the volume of ELA has slightly decreased. The development is fragile, but nevertheless positive. One could predict a further small decrease of ELA, if news from Greece will remain positive," he said.

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of the Census revised the number of building permits on Wednesday. U.S. building permits in July fell 15.5% to a 1.130 million unit annual rate, up from a preliminary estimate of a 16.3% fall to a 1.119 million unit rate.

Building permits for single-family homes declined 1.7% to a 680,000 unit rate, down from a preliminary estimate of a 1.9% decrease to a 679,000 unit rate, while permits for multi-unit buildings dropped 30.2% to a 450,000 unit rate, down from a preliminary estimate of a 31.8% decline to a 440,000 unit rate.

The French Labour Ministry released its labour market data on Wednesday. The number of unemployed people in France - registered job seekers who are fully unemployed - decreased 0.1% in July from June to 3,551,600. It was the first decline since January.

The unemployment in France has continued to increase since French President Francois Hollande took office in 2012.

The number of jobseekers is 3.9% higher than in July last year.

EUR / USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.1518 (2067)

$1.1460 (5214)

$1.1417 (3230)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.1351

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.1299 (1737)

$1.1265 (1972)

$1.1215 (4411)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date September, 4 is 83419 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,1350 (5214);

- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date September, 4 is 126522 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,0500 (7801);

- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 1.52 versus 1.51 from the previous trading day according to data from August, 26

GBP/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.5801 (2386)

$1.5702 (2133)

$1.5604 (2646)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.5487

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.5394 (2256)

$1.5297 (2500)

$1.5199 (1484)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date September, 4 is 30220 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,5600 (2646);

- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date September, 4 is 35581 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,5500 (2791);

- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 1.18 versus 1.16 from the previous trading day according to data from August, 26

* - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange bulletin (CME) is used for the calculation.

** - Open interest takes into account the total number of option contracts that are open at the moment.

Economic calendar (GMT0):

Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual

01:30 Australia Private Capital Expenditure Quarter II -4.7% Revised From -4.4% -2.5% -4.0%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index, y/y August 3.5% 3.1% 3.2%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index August 0.4% 0.4% 0.3%

The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies amid strong data on the U.S. economy and gains in equities. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that seasonally adjusted durable goods orders rose by 2% in July compared to the previous month. June reading was revised to 4.1% from 3.4%. Better data partly reflect greater investment into new equipment, suggesting growing optimism among producers.

Dollar's gains were limited by comments from FOMC member Dudley, who said that now a rate increase in September looks less likely than a few weeks ago. He also noted that China's slowing economic growth weighs on the global economy.

The pound slightly gained against the greenback, recovering after yesterday's declines. Experts say that the sterling was influenced by a survey, which showed that inflation expectations declined in August. Data by YouGov showed that one-year expectations fell to 1.4% from 1.6%. This could delay a rate increase by the Bank of England.

The yen little changed. It was supported by comments by Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda, who said that further quantitative easing is unnecessary.

EUR/USD: the pair rose to $1.1355 in Asian trade

USD/JPY: the pair traded within Y119.75-25

GBP/USD: the pair rose to $1.5510

The most important news that are expected (GMT0):

(time / country / index / period / previous value / forecast)

08:00 Eurozone Private Loans, Y/Y July 0.6% 0.8%

08:00 Eurozone M3 money supply, adjusted y/y July 5.0% 4.9%

12:30 U.S. Continuing Jobless Claims August 2254 2250

12:30 U.S. PCE price index, q/q (Revised) Quarter II -2% 2.2%

12:30 U.S. PCE price index ex food, energy, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 1% 1.8%

12:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims August 277 274

12:30 U.S. GDP, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 0.6% 3.2%

17:00 U.S. Jackson Hole Symposium

23:05 United Kingdom Gfk Consumer Confidence August 4 4

23:30 Japan Household spending Y/Y July -2.0% 1.3%

23:30 Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index, y/y August 0.2%

23:30 Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food, y/y August -0.1% -0.2%

23:30 Japan Unemployment Rate July 3.4% 3.4%

23:30 Japan National Consumer Price Index, y/y July 0.4% 0.2%

23:30 Japan National CPI Ex-Fresh Food, y/y July 0.1% -0.2%

23:50 Japan Retail sales, y/y July 0.9% 1.1%

(pare/closed(GMT +3)/change, %)

EUR/USD $1,1313 -1,79%

GBP/USD $1,5457 -1,50%

USD/CHF Chf0,954 +1,50%

USD/JPY Y120,20 +1,08%

EUR/JPY Y136,00 -0,71%

GBP/JPY Y185,94 -0,32%

AUD/USD $0,7126 -0,21%

NZD/USD $0,6450 -0,59%

USD/CAD C$1,3396 +0,50%

(time / country / index / period / previous value / forecast)

01:30 Australia Private Capital Expenditure Quarter II -4.4% -2.5%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index, y/y August 3.5% 3.1%

06:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index August 0.4% 0.4%

08:00 Eurozone Private Loans, Y/Y July 0.6% 0.8%

08:00 Eurozone M3 money supply, adjusted y/y July 5.0% 4.9%

12:30 U.S. Continuing Jobless Claims August 2254 2250

12:30 U.S. PCE price index, q/q (Revised) Quarter II -2% 2.2%

12:30 U.S. PCE price index ex food, energy, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 1% 1.8%

12:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims August 277 274

12:30 U.S. GDP, q/q (Revised) Quarter II 0.6% 3.2%

17:00 U.S. Jackson Hole Symposium

23:05 United Kingdom Gfk Consumer Confidence August 4 4

23:30 Japan Household spending Y/Y July -2.0% 1.3%

23:30 Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index, y/y August 0.2%

23:30 Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food, y/y August -0.1% -0.2%

23:30 Japan Unemployment Rate July 3.4% 3.4%

23:30 Japan National Consumer Price Index, y/y July 0.4% 0.2%

23:30 Japan National CPI Ex-Fresh Food, y/y July 0.1% -0.2%

23:50 Japan Retail sales, y/y July 0.9% 1.1%