The dollar fell against the euro , thus responding to the not too optimistic data on business activity in the U.S. service sector . As we learned from the report , which was submitted to Markit Economics, activity in the U.S. service sector continued to grow steadily in December , albeit slightly lower than anticipated . According to the report , the final index of business activity for the services sector amounted to 55.7 points in December , compared with the initial reading at the level of 56.0 points, and the final value of November at around 55.9 points . Experts had expected the index to remain unchanged - at the level of 56.0 points. In addition, it was reported that the composite index , which covers the production and service sectors also fell slightly in December - up to 56.1 from 56.2 in November. Nevertheless , the index indicates a strong increase of activity in the manufacturing and services sectors combined.

At the same time , another report showed that in December, the index of business activity in the U.S. service sector , calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell, while reaching the level of 53.0 , compared with the November reading at around 53.9 . According to experts , this indicator would grow to 54.6 . All the basic sub - codes , apart from one in December remained on site expansion ( greater than 50 ) . The greatest impact on the reduction of sub- indices had orders and business activity. Showed growth sub- indices of employment and prices.

Earlier, the euro contributed to the growth of data that showed that growth in the euro zone's private sector accelerated in December , with the support of a significant improvement in the manufacturing sector . On a seasonally adjusted composite index that measures the performance in the industrial sector and the service sector , rose to a three-month high in December - to the level of 52.1 points , compared with 51.7 in November. Add that last result corresponded to preliminary estimates . Recovery headed high in the manufacturing sector , where growth accelerated to the highest level since May 2011 , helped by the improvement in new orders . Meanwhile, it became known that the purchasing managers' index for the services sector fell slightly - to 51.0 points in December from 51.2 in November. The latter figure was in line with the preliminary estimates. Slowdown reflects continuing weakness in some domestic markets.

Pound recovered some lost ground against the dollar, when the British currency declined amid expectations the publication of data on service sector activity . As it became known , the growth in the UK services sector unexpectedly slowed in December , against which the corresponding figure fell below 59 points. However, experts note that the confidence grew and the economy can still record its strongest expansion since 2007 last year.

According to the report , the monthly purchasing managers index (PMI) for the service sector fell to a six-month low in December - to the level of 58.8 points, contrary to the predictions of experts on the growth to the level of 60.4 points from 60.0 points in November . However, this figure remains well above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction. We also add that business confidence about the future rose to its highest level since March 2010 - the corresponding index was 73.5 points , helped by an increase in new orders.

The yen traded upward against the dollar, recovering previously lost ground . Japanese yen helped report , which showed that business activity index for non-manufacturing sector grew in Japan last month , registering with the fourteenth consecutive monthly expansion . This became known to their research results , which were published today Markit Economics. According to the report , the business activity index for the services sector rose to 52.1 points in December , compared with November's three-month low of 51.8 points . This result indicates a slight acceleration of growth in business activity , as well as a continuation of a series of extensions , which lasts for 14 consecutive months. Meanwhile, it became known that the composite PMI , which measures the efficiency in both sectors , namely in the manufacturing and service sectors , remained unchanged in December , reaching 54.0 points in this , and proceeded to point to steady expansion .

European stocks fell after a U.S. report that showed weakness in the services industry, while factory orders rose faster than forecast.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.2 percent to 326.98 at the close of trading in London. The benchmark gauge climbed 5.8 percent from its Dec. 13 low through Jan. 3.

A U.S. report showed that the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index fell to 53 last month from 53.9 in November. Economists in a Bloomberg survey had forecast a reading of 54.7. A separate release showed factory orders in the world’s biggest economy climbed 1.8 percent in November. The median economist estimate called for a 1.7 percent increase.

In China, a purchasing managers’ index of the services industry fell to 50.9 in December from 52.5 the previous month, data from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics showed. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing last week showed services in the world’s second-biggest economy fell in December to the slowest in four months.

National benchmark indexes rose in eight of the 14 western-European markets open today. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was little changed and Germany’s DAX slipped 0.1 percent. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.5 percent. Stock markets in Sweden, Finland, Austria and Greece were closed today for the Epiphany holiday.

Remy Cointreau fell 2.1 percent to 57.70 euros. Natixis lowered its rating on the producer of Remy Martin cognac to neutral from buy after Frederic Pflanz resigned as chief executive officer last week.

Edenred dropped 5.5 percent to 22.95 euros after Natixis downgraded the shares to neutral from buy. The brokerage said currencies will weigh on company earnings. The company, which sells vouchers for meals and services, got 49 percent of its revenue from Latin America and the Caribbeans in 2012, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

John Wood Group Plc slid 3.8 percent to 652 pence after Deutsche Bank AG cut its rating on the shares to hold from buy, citing a lack of possible factors for gains and limited potential for earnings to grow in the next year.

Ziggo climbed 3.6 percent to 33.77 euros. Liberty Global, controlled by billionaire John Malone, and Ziggo plan to announce a deal as early as the middle of this month, according to people familiar with the matter. The two companies are finalizing the acquisition price and other terms, they said. Ziggo spokesman Martijn Jonker and Liberty Global spokesman Marcus Smith declined to comment.

Centamin Plc rallied 2.9 percent to 46.55 pence after the gold miner said preliminary results indicate full-year production of 356,943 ounces, up 36 percent from 2012. That exceeded the company’s previous forecast of 320,000 ounces.

West Texas Intermediate crude fluctuated between gains and losses as freezing temperatures in the U.S. spurred energy demand and as U.S. fuel supplies rose.

Prices moved in an 83-cent range. The coldest air in almost 20 years is sweeping over the central U.S. toward the East Coast, threatening to topple temperature records. Inventories of gasoline and distillate fuels, including diesel and heating oil, jumped to a two-month high in the week ended Dec. 27, the government reported Jan. 3. WTI dropped the most in 18 months last week.

WTI for February delivery was unchanged at $93.96 a barrel at 10:23 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, it touched $93.76, the lowest price since Dec. 3. The grade declined 6.3 percent last week, the steepest loss since June 2012. The volume of all futures traded was about 33 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for February settlement climbed 38 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $107.27 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Volume was 11 percent below the 100-day average. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $13.31 to WTI. The spread was $12.93 on Jan. 3.

Gold prices are rising fourth consecutive session , despite a sharp fall.

The euro rose against the U.S. dollar, and a weakening dollar has made a favorable buying gold .

Today we have published data from Markit Economics, which showed that activity in the U.S. service sector continued to grow steadily in December , albeit slightly lower than anticipated .

According to the report , the final index of business activity for the services sector amounted to 55.7 points in December , compared with the initial reading at the level of 56.0 points, and the final value of November at around 55.9 points . Experts had expected the index to remain unchanged - at the level of 56.0 points.

In addition, it was reported that the composite index , which covers the production and service sectors also fell slightly in December - to 56.1 from 56.2 in November. Nevertheless , the index indicates a strong increase of activity in the manufacturing and services sectors combined.

In turn, the December index of business activity in the U.S. service sector , calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell, while reaching the level of 53.0 , compared with the November reading at around 53.9 . According to experts , this indicator would grow to 54.6 .

All the basic sub - codes , apart from one in December remained on site expansion ( greater than 50 ) . The greatest impact on the reduction of sub- indices had orders and business activity. Growth was sub-index of employment and prices.

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1247.70 per ounce.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,908.88 -382.43 -2.35%

Hang Seng 22,684.15 -133.13 -0.58%

Shanghai Composite 2,045.71 -37.43 -1.80%

FTSE 6,747.51 +16.84 +0.25%

CAC 4,249.73 +2.08 +0.05%

DAX 9,461.64 +26.49 +0.28%

Crude oil $94.14 (+0.19%).

Gold $1240.90 (+0.19%).

EUR/USD $1.3630

USD/JPY Y104.00, Y104.50, Y105.00, Y105.20, Y105.30, Y105.50, Y106.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8460

AUD/USD $0.8940, $0.9000

Data

1:45 China PMI in the service sector from HSBC December 52.5 50.9

8:48 France PMI services sector ( final data ) December 47.4 47.4 47.8

8:53 Germany PMI services sector ( final data ) December 54.0 54.0 53.5

8:58 Eurozone business activity in the services sector ( final data ) December 51.0 51.2 51.0

09:30 EU indicator of investor confidence Sentix January 8.0 9.7 11.9

09:30 UK Postal Services PMI 60.0 60.4 December 58.8

13:00 Germany CPI m / m (preliminary data ) December +0.2% +0.3%  +0.4%

13:00 Germany CPI y / y (preliminary data ) December +1.3% +1.4%  +1.4%

Rate of the euro retreated from a session high against the dollar, while returning to the opening level of today's session . Influenced the course of trading data on business activity . They showed that growth in the euro zone's private sector accelerated in December , with the support of a significant improvement in the manufacturing sector . It became known from the final data , which were published today Markit Economics.

On a seasonally adjusted composite index that measures the performance in the industrial sector and the service sector , rose to a three-month high in December - to the level of 52.1 points , compared with 51.7 in November. Add that last result corresponded to preliminary estimates . Recovery headed high in the manufacturing sector , where growth accelerated to the highest level since May 2011 , helped by the improvement in new orders . Meanwhile, it became known that the purchasing managers' index for the services sector fell slightly - to 51.0 points in December from 51.2 in November. The latter figure was in line with the preliminary estimates. Slowdown reflects continuing weakness in some domestic markets.

Slight pressure on the euro have standby output data from the U.S. . The report forecast to show that the index of business activity in the service sector from the Institute for Supply Management rose to 54.6 last month from 53.9 in November. Separate release may show that factory orders world's largest economy grew by 1.8 percent in November , compared with a fall of 0.9 % a month earlier .

Pound regained some lost ground against the dollar, but still continues to trade with a noticeable decrease . Originally currency collapse was due to the expectations of the British publication data , and amid volatile trading .

As it became known , the growth in the UK services sector unexpectedly slowed in December , against which the corresponding figure fell below 59 points. However, experts note that the confidence grew and the economy can still record its strongest expansion since 2007 last year.

According to the report , the monthly purchasing managers index (PMI) for the service sector fell to a six-month low in December - to the level of 58.8 points, contrary to the predictions of experts on the growth to the level of 60.4 points from 60.0 points in November . However, this figure remains well above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction. We also add that business confidence about the future rose to its highest level since March 2010 - the corresponding index was 73.5 points , helped by an increase in new orders.

The yen traded upward against the dollar, although it has lost some of the previously captured positions . Japanese yen helped report , which showed that business activity index for non-manufacturing sector grew in Japan last month , registering with the fourteenth consecutive monthly expansion . This became known to their research results , which were published today Markit Economics.

According to the report , the business activity index for the services sector rose to 52.1 points in December , compared with November's three-month low of 51.8 points . This result indicates a slight acceleration of growth in business activity , as well as a continuation of a series of extensions , which lasts for 14 consecutive months.

Meanwhile, it became known that the composite PMI , which measures the efficiency in both sectors , namely in the manufacturing and service sectors , remained unchanged in December , reaching 54.0 points in this , and proceeded to point to steady expansion .

EUR / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.3618 , but then decreased slightly

GBP / USD: during the European session, the pair fell to $ 1.6334 , then recovered slightly

USD / JPY: during the European session, the pair rose from Y104.14 to Y104.65

At 13:30 GMT , Canada will release the index of commodity prices for November. At 15:00 GMT the U.S. will release the composite index of ISM non-manufacturing areas in December , and will report on changes in the volume of industrial orders for November. At 23:50 GMT , Japan will declare to the change in the monetary base in December.

EUR/USD

Offers $1.3770/80, $1.3750, $1.3720/25, $1.3700/05, $1.3650, $1.3675/80, $1.3620/30

Bids $1.3572, $1.3570, $1.3555/50, $1.3525/20, $1.3500

GBP/USD

Offers $1.6545/50, $1.6530/35, $1.6500/10, $1.6475/85, $1.6445/50, $1.6420

Bids $1.6337, $1.6325/15, $1.6300, $1.6294

AUD/USD

Offers $0.9050, $0.9020, $0.9000, $0.8982

Bids $0.8925/20, $0.8900, $0.8855/50, $0.8825/20

EUR/JPY

Offers Y143.80, Y143.50, Y143.00, Y142.80, Y142.50

Bids Y141.85/80, Y141.50, Y141.30/25, Y141.00

USD/JPY

Offers Y106.00, Y105.80, Y105.45/50, Y105.30/40, Y104.65/70

Bids Y104.15, Y104.00, Y103.80/75, Y103.70, Y103.50

EUR/GBP

Offers sg0.8400/05, stg0.8370/80, stg0.8350, stg0.8330/35, stg0.8332

Bids stg0.8260/50, stg0.8250, stg0.8220, stg0.8205/00

European stocks traded mixed a little ahead of the release of U.S. data on business activity in the services sector. Meanwhile, we add that the course of trade influenced the Chinese report, which pointed to a deterioration in the non-manufacturing activity . U.S. index futures are little changed , while Asian shares declined.

The data showed that the expansion in the non-manufacturing sector in China has slowed moderately in the last month , against which the corresponding index reached its lowest level since August 2011 , which was mainly due to the weakening of the inflow of new labor. It became known from the study , which was conducted by Markit Economics and HSBC.

According to the report , the business activity index for the services sector amounted to 50.9 points in December , compared to 52.5 points in November. The latter result was largely in line with the results of a survey conducted by the All-China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and the National Bureau of Statistics last week, which showed a sharp slowdown in China's non-manufacturing sector .

In addition, it was reported that the composite PMI from HSBC, which measures the efficiency in both sectors , namely manufacturing and the services sector fell in December to 51.2 points , compared to 52.3 points in November ( eight- max). On such a result is affected mostly weak pace of growth of production and new orders.

Note that service providers have signaled a modest growth rate of new orders in December , which was the weakest in the past six months.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.2 percent , after it ended last week virtually unchanged.

Report on the United States is forecast to show that the index of business activity in the service sector from the Institute for Supply Management rose to 54.6 last month from 53.9 in November. Separate release may show that factory orders world's largest economy grew by 1.8 percent in November , compared with a fall of 0.9 % a month earlier .

Cost Remy Cointreau fell 4.1 percent , after experts Natixis downgraded the stock to the level of " neutral" from "buy" , as Frederick Pflanzen resigned. He served as Chief Executive Officer.

Edenred shares fell 4.2 per cent , against the background of the fact that Natixis downgraded the stock to ' neutral ' from ' buy '.

The cost of John Wood Group Plc fell 2.6 percent after analysts at Deutsche Bank AG downgraded the shares to " hold " from " buy," citing a lack of potential factors and limited profit potential for earnings growth next year.

At the current moment

FTSE 100 6,727.18 -3.49 -0.05 %

CAC 40 4,249.34 +1.69 +0.04 %

DAX 9,450.63 +15.48 +0.16%

EUR/USD $1.3630

USD/JPY Y104.00, Y104.50, Y105.00, Y105.20, Y105.30, Y105.50, Y106.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8460

AUD/USD $0.8940, $0.9000

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index headed for its biggest loss in more than three weeks, as a gauge of China’s services industries dropped, signaling growth may slow in the world second-biggest economy.

Nikkei 225 15,908.88 -382.43 -2.35%

S&P/ASX 200 5,324.88 -25.22 -0.47%

Shanghai Сомпосите 2,045.71 -37.43 -1.80%

SoftBank Corp., a Japanese mobile phone operator, slid 3.5 percent after the rating of Sprint Corp., which SoftBank acquired last year, was cut at Cowen and Company.

Fast Retailing Co., Asia’s biggest apparel chain, lost 5.8 percent in Tokyo as the Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped from a six-year high.

China Railway Group Ltd. slumped 3.3 percent in Hong Kong after China’s second-largest rail builder said its president died in an accident.

01:45 China HSBC Services PMI December 52.5 50.9

The dollar reached the strongest against the euro in a month before U.S. services and factory data today that may bolster the case for the Federal Reserve to end its bond-buying program this year. The Institute for Supply Management may say today its U.S. non-manufacturing index climbed to 54.6 last month from 53.9 in November, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. A reading above 50 shows expansion among companies that account for almost 90 percent of the world’s biggest economy.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index closed last week at the highest in almost four months after Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said headwinds for the U.S. economy may be abating. The central bank said Dec. 18 it would trim monthly bond buying by $10 billion this month.

The yen climbed against most major peers as its decline last year was seen as excessive.

The euro slid to an almost three-week low against the yen before data tomorrow that may show the region’s inflation stayed below 1 percent. Euro-area inflation remained below 1 percent for a third-straight month in December, less than half the ECB’s goal, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg before tomorrow’s report.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.3580-00

GBP / USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.6345

USD / JPY: on Asian session the pair fell to Y104.15

Financial markets are largely up to full strength Monday, although a few centres will be closed for the Epiphany holiday. There is a run of European data expected in the morning session, largely focusing on the Euro are services PMI data. The main euro area services PMI releases kick off at 0813GMT, when Spanish data crosses the wires. Analysts are looking for 51.6. Italian data follows at 0843GMT, with French services PMI due at 0848GMT. German data is expected at 0853GMT and amalgamated Euro area data at 0858GMT. Analysts see German data coming in at 54.0 and Overall euro area services PMI at 51.0. Composite euro area PMI is expected to come in at 52.1. Spain's December employment data will be released at 0900GMT. That will be followed at 0930GMT by the release of the European January Sentix Investor Confidence data, expected to rise to 9.5 from December's 8.

01:45 China HSBC Services PMI December 52.5

08:48 France Services PMI (Finally) December 47.4 47.4

08:53 Germany Services PMI (Finally) December 54.0 54.0

08:58 Eurozone Services PMI (Finally) December 51.0 51.2

09:30 Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence January 8.0 9.7

09:30 United Kingdom Purchasing Manager Index Services December 60.0 60.4

13:00 Germany CPI, m/m (Preliminary) December +0.2% +0.3%

13:00 Germany CPI, y/y (Preliminary) December +1.3% +1.4%

13:30 Canada Industrial Product Prices, m/m November -0.3% 0.0%

13:30 Canada Raw Material Price Index November -2.3% -1.1%

14:00 U.S. Services PMI (Finally) December 56.0 56.0

15:00 U.S. ISM Non-Manufacturing December 53.9 54.6

15:00 U.S. Factory Orders November -0.9% +1.8%

22:30 U.S. Fed Chairman Nomination Vote

23:50 Japan Monetary Base, y/y December +52.5% +55.2%