The euro exchange rate rose sharply against the dollar , which was mainly due to the release of data on the euro area. Eurozone inflation was 0.8 percent for the third month in a row in February , showed preliminary estimate of Eurostat , published on Friday . Inflation is projected to slow down to was 0.7 percent. Inflation has remained below the target of the European Central Bank " below but close to 2 percent," the thirteenth consecutive month and is in the four-year low .

The unemployment rate in the euro area remained at 12 per cent from October , showed on Friday Eurostat data . Result is consistent with economists' expectations . In January, 19.17 million people were unemployed in the euro area . The number of people unemployed increased by 17,000 in December , while it fell by 67,000 in January 2013.

Also support euro was U.S. data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which showed that at the end of January, the number of pending home sales remained virtually unchanged . The report NAR said that the index of pending home sales rose last month by 0.1 percent - to 95.0 points , after falling 5.8 percent in December - to 94.9 points, which was revised to improve on - 8.7 percent . Economists had expected the index to rise more significantly , namely by 2.9 percent . Recall that open trade - a signed contract , but not yet closed . Usually takes four to six weeks to close a contract for the sale . Despite the modest monthly increase in the index of pending sales are now 9.0 percent below the January 2013 index ( at 104.4 points).

Pound rose against the dollar on housing data and potrebdoveriyu . UK consumer confidence remained unchanged in February at the highest level in more than six years , as personal financial expectations improved by expanding the background of economic recovery. The consumer confidence index remained unchanged at -7 in February , the highest level since September 2007 . Result noted significant improvement since last February , when the index reached -26 . The survey showed that two of the five indicators used to calculate the index , fell this month , the two sub-indices increased , and one remained unchanged.

Housing prices in the UK rose significantly more rapidly in February , with more than economists forecast . The housing price index rose by 9.4 per cent per annum, after increasing 8.8 percent in January. Economists had expected growth in February at 9 percent. Prices rose twelfth consecutive month. The rise in prices reflects an increase in demand for new homes , supported by record low interest rates , improving access to credit and rising consumer confidence . House prices in the UK averaged 177,846 pounds in February , which is higher than 176,491 pounds a month earlier .

USD/JPY Y101.00, Y101.50, Y101.80, Y102.00, Y102.60, Y102.80, Y103.00, Y103.60

EUR/USD $1.3580/85, $1.3620, $1.3650, $1.3705-10-15, $1.3735, $1.3790, $1.3800

GBP/USD $1.6550, $1.6600, $1.6635, $1.6650, $1.6800,1.6820

EUR/GBP stg0.8150, stg0.8250

AUD/USD $0.8700, $0.8750, $0.8800, $0.8940, $0.8950, $0.9000, $0.9050, $0.9110

USD/CAD C$1.0900, C$1.1085, C$1.1100, C$1.1200

07:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index February +0.7% +0.6% +0.6%

07:00 United Kingdom Nationwide house price index, y/y February +8.8% +9.0% +9.4%

07:00 Germany Retail sales, real adjusted January -2.5% +1.2% +2.5%

07:00 Germany Retail sales, real unadjusted, y/y January -2.4% +0.1% +0.9%

07:45 France Consumer spending January -0.1% -0.8% -2.1%

07:45 France Consumer spending, y/y January +1.4% +1.4% -0.5%

08:00 Switzerland KOF Leading Indicator February 2.01 Revised From 1.98 2.03 2.03

10:00 Eurozone Harmonized CPI, Y/Y (Preliminary) February +0.7% +0.7% +0.8%

10:00 Eurozone Unemployment Rate January 12.0% 12.0% 12.0%

The euro rose against the dollar after U.S. data on inflation and unemployment in the eurozone. Eurozone inflation was 0.8 percent for the third month in a row in February , showed preliminary estimate of Eurostat , published on Friday . Inflation is projected to slow down to was 0.7 percent. Inflation has remained below the target of the European Central Bank " below but close to 2 percent," the thirteenth consecutive month and is in the four-year low .

The unemployment rate in the euro area remained at 12 per cent from October , showed on Friday Eurostat data . Result is consistent with economists' expectations . In January, 19.17 million people were unemployed in the euro area . The number of people unemployed increased by 17,000 in December , while it fell by 67,000 in January 2013.

Another report showed that German retail sales rose more than expected in January compared with the previous month , on Friday showed the data published by the Federal Statistical Office. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted and calendar corrections by 2.5 percent on a monthly measurement , offsetting a decline of 2 percent in December . Economists had expected an increase of 1 percent. In annual terms, sales rose 0.9 percent in January , after falling 1.5 percent in the previous month . Economists had forecast a decline of 1.7 percent.

The British pound rose against the dollar on housing data and potrebdoveriyu . UK consumer confidence remained unchanged in February at the highest level in more than six years , as personal financial expectations improved by expanding the background of economic recovery. The consumer confidence index remained unchanged at -7 in February , the highest level since September 2007 , data showed on Friday, the latest survey GfK NOP. Result noted significant improvement since last February , when the index reached -26 . The survey showed that two of the five indicators used to calculate the index , fell this month , the two sub-indices increased , and one remained unchanged.

Housing prices in the UK rose significantly more rapidly in February , with more than economists forecast , data showed a survey released on Friday Nationwide. The housing price index rose by 9.4 per cent per annum, after increasing 8.8 percent in January. Economists had expected growth in February at 9 percent. Prices rose twelfth consecutive month. The rise in prices reflects an increase in demand for new homes , supported by record low interest rates , improving access to credit and rising consumer confidence .

House prices in the UK averaged 177,846 pounds in February , which is higher than 176,491 pounds a month earlier . House prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent compared to January , when the index recorded an increase of 0.8 percent , which was revised from 0.7 per cent . In February, a result in line with expectations of economists.

EUR / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.3813

GBP / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.6768 and retreated

USD / JPY: during the European session, the pair dropped to Y101.55

At 13:30 GMT , Canada will release the GDP change in December. In the U.S. at 13:30 GMT will be released updated information on changes in the volume of GDP, the GDP price index , the index of personal consumption expenditures , the main index of personal consumption expenditures for the 4th quarter , in 14:45 GMT - Index Chicago PMI, at 14:55 GMT - indicator consumer confidence from the University of Michigan in February, at 15:00 GMT - the change in volume of pending home sales for January.

USD/JPY Y101.00, Y101.50, Y101.80, Y102.00, Y102.60, Y102.80, Y103.00, Y103.60

EUR/USD $1.3580/85, $1.3620, $1.3650, $1.3705-10-15, $1.3735, $1.3790, $1.3800

GBP/USD $1.6550, $1.6600, $1.6635, $1.6650, $1.6800,1.6820

EUR/GBP stg0.8150, stg0.8250

AUD/USD $0.8700, $0.8750, $0.8800, $0.8940, $0.8950, $0.9000, $0.9050, $0.9110

USD/CAD C$1.0900, C$1.1085, C$1.1100, C$1.1200

00:00 New Zealand ANZ Business Confidence February 64.1 70.8

00:05 United Kingdom Gfk Consumer Confidence February -7 -6 -7

00:30 Australia Private Sector Credit, m/m January +0.5% +0.5% +0.4%

00:30 Australia Private Sector Credit, y/y January +3.9% +4.1%

05:00 Japan Housing Starts, y/y January +18.0% +15.3% +12.3%

China’s yuan slid by the most since 2008 on speculation the government will broaden the currency’s trading band.

Japan’s currency headed for its biggest weekly advance in a month amid speculation its central bank may delay expanding stimulus with the inflation rate at a five-year high. In Japan, consumer prices excluding fresh food increased 1.3 percent in January from a year ago, statistics bureau data showed today. That matched the median estimate of economists in a Bloomberg News survey and the December figure which was the most since October 2008.

The dollar was set for a monthly drop against major counterparts before U.S. data economists say will show weaker fourth-quarter growth. The U.S. Commerce Department may say today that the world’s largest economy expanded 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with the previous reported growth of 3.2 percent, economists forecast. Yellen appeared before the Senate Banking Committee yesterday after the previously scheduled hearing was postponed on Feb. 13 owing to a snowstorm.

The Swiss franc reached the strongest in 10 months per euro after Russian President Vladimir Putin put fighter jets on alert.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.3695

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.6675-95

USD / JPY: on Asian session the pair fell to Y101.95

There is no easy roll into the weekend, with another full calendar Friday, will a full programme on both sides of the Atlantic. The main data release will likely be the Eurozone inflation data, which could tip the balance of opinions on the ECB Council ahead of next week's meeting. The European calendar gets underway at 0700GMT, when the German January retail sales data are published. At 0745GMT, French January consumer spending and January PPI numbers will cross the wires. Ahead of the integrated EMU inflation data, Spanish and Italian flash February data will be published at 0800GMT and 0900GMT respectively. In between, at 0815GMT, the Swiss February KOF economic barometer numbers are set to be released. At 0900GMT, ECB Executive Board member Sabine Lautenschlaeger will deliver a speech on banking, in Frankfurt. Also at 1000GMT, the session's main data is expected, when the EMU January unemployment data and the February flash HICP numbers cross the wires. Unemployment is seen unchanged at 12%, with HICP seen down 0.1% on month, higher by 0.6% on year.

The US events calendar gets underway early, when Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher delivers a speech on monetary policy, in Zurich at 1000GMT. The US data calendar starts at 1200GMT, when the MBA Mortgage Index for the February 21 week crosses the wire. Canadian fourth quarter GDP data will be released at 1330GMT. Halle Institute's Claudia Buch, BOE Gov. Mark Carney, BBK Board member Andreas Dombret and BaFin President Elke Koenig appear at a conference to discuss financial regulation, in Frankfurt also at 1330GMT. The afternoon sees two Fed appearances. At 1515GMT, Federal Reserve Gov. Jeremy Stein and Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota appear on a panel discussing monetary policy and financial stability, in New York. Later, at 1830GMT, Chicago Fed's Charles Evans and Philadelphia Fed's Charles Plosser appear on the same panel to discus communications and unconventional monetary policy