The dollar fell against the euro due to risk aversion amid renewed concerns about the Ukraine and China. Also, the pressure on the currency was weak U.S. data . One report showed that the producer price index, which measures changes in prices of everything from food to energy and transport services decreased by 0.1 % compared with the previous month . Economists had expected a 0.2 % rise . Index for January remained unchanged at 0.2% growth . The index rose 0.9% in February after an annual increase of 1.2% in the previous month .

One more preliminary data , which were presented Thomson-Reuters and the Michigan Institute showed that in March, U.S. consumers feel more pessimistic about the economy than was recorded in the last month. According to reports, in March preliminary index of consumer sentiment fell to 79.9 compared with the final reading for February at 81.6 . It is worth noting that according to the average estimates of experts , the index had to grow compared with the February value to reach 81.9 .

The yen rose against the U.S. dollar , which was due to concerns about events in Ukraine and signs of weakness in the Chinese economy . Note also that the present U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in London. Lavrov said that Russia will decide on the Crimea only after the referendum , said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry . " Foreign Minister Lavrov made ​​clear that President Putin is not ready to take a decision before the referendum , which will be held on Sunday," - said John Kerry . The head of the State Department stressed that the U.S. considers the referendum unconstitutional Ukrainian and international law.

Traders also noted the ongoing concerns about the state of China's economy after a series of poor economic performance .

Pound rose against the dollar , while returning all previously lost ground. Impact on the dynamics of the reported data on the trade balance , which were worse than expected , as well as the words of the deputy governor of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Charles Bean . Bean noted that further deterioration of foreign income could harm the UK pound. According to Bean , the recent decline in net investment income Britain is unlikely to completely unfold . "In my opinion , the situation may recover slightly , but she did not return to the levels before the financial crisis . Undoubtedly, due to the negative net balance we vulnerable , making a sharp depreciation of the pound is more likely that if investors lose confidence in the economy . We saw it happen in emerging markets , "said Bean .

European stocks fell to their lowest level in five weeks, extending their second weekly loss, as investors awaited a referendum that may lead to Crimea’s secession from Ukraine.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined 0.8 percent to 322.03 at 4:33 p.m. in London, its lowest level since Feb. 6. The benchmark gauge has fallen 3.3 percent this week as Russia and Ukraine continued their standoff over Crimea, and China reported worse-than-expected economic data.

“Markets are nervous because we’ve got two catalysts,” Andreas Lipkow, a senior market strategist at Kliegel & Hafner AG in Berlin, said by telephone. “First, we have the Crimean crisis and people are going to be watching the referendum. Second, there are now signs China’s recovery will be more difficult than previously thought. It’s hard to figure out what will happen next, so investors are in a risk-off mode and have become defensive.”

National benchmark indexes fell in 16 of the 18 western European markets today.

FTSE 100 6,527.89 -25.89 -0.40% CAC 40 4,216.37 -34.14 -0.80% DAX 9,056.41 +38.62 +0.43%  

Bouygues dropped 3.1 percent to 30.45 euros. French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg told Europe1 radio station that Vivendi, weighing competing offers for SFR, prefers a bid from billionaire Patrick Drahi’s cable holding Altice SA to Bouygues’s offer. Altice jumped 7.4 percent to 30 euros and its Numericable Group SA unit soared 12 percent to 29.50 euros.

Pandora, the Danish maker of charm bracelets, fell 2.9 percent to 348.80 kroner. Funds managed by Danish private-equity firm Axcel, Pewic Holding ApS and Christian Algot Enevoldsen offered 13 million shares in the transaction, according to a statement from JPMorgan, which is managing the sale along with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Nordea Bank AB. Pandora shares have more than doubled over the past year.

HeidelbergCement AG declined for a third day, dropping 1.9 percent to 59.52 euros. Berenberg Bank cut its rating on construction stocks including the German cement maker to hold from buy, meaning it no longer recommends acquiring the shares. Berenberg cited stock price increases for the downgrade.

Monte dei Paschi added 2 percent to 23.2 euro cents. JC Flowers, a U.S. private-equity firm, is interested in taking a stake in Italy’s third-biggest bank as a long-term investor, Il Messaggero newspaper reported, without citing anyone.

Fresenius SE gained 3.5 percent to 108.65 euros. The health-care company said it will propose a stock split at a May 16 annual general meeting, tripling the number of shares. Holders will get two new shares for every one owned.

Fresenius Medical Care AG advanced 1.5 percent to 48.20 euros. Redburn Partners LLP recommended buying the stock, raising its rating from neutral.

The cost of oil futures is moderately increased today , as rising tensions in the Ukraine on the eve of the referendum on the accession of the Russian Federation to the Crimea raised concerns about Russian oil supplies .

Note that Russia sent additional troops and equipment to the Crimea on Friday and repeated his threat to invade other parts of Ukraine , not wanting to listen to Western politicians who call for an end to the aggression against Ukraine. Conflict supports global oil markets as traders fear that this could lead to disruption of oil supplies from Russia - one of the world's largest oil producer .

Rising oil prices were also supported by weak data from China, where economic growth is showing further signs of weakness that can suppress an increase in world oil demand .

" Poor economic data from China and a referendum on the annexation of the Crimea on Sunday provide a consistently high risk aversion in the markets ," said Carsten Fritsch , senior analyst for oil in Commerzbank.

Meanwhile, adding that today the International Energy Agency raised its forecast for growth in global oil demand in 2014 by 100 thousand barrels per day - to 92.7 million barrels , or 1.4 million barrels per day higher than in 2013 , follows from March report organization. In February of the world 's oil deliveries increased on a monthly basis to 600,000 barrels - up to 92.81 million barrels per day on increased OPEC production to 500,000 barrels.

The growth of oil supply from non -OPEC countries in 2013 amounted to 1.3 million barrels per day. In 2014, the figure, according to IEA projections , will be 1.7 million barrels per day in 2014 , the highest in at least the early 1990s .

Oil on the stock exchanges today also more expensive due to technical buying oil futures , which regains its decline over the previous trading session . Attractive terms for purchases formed after oil prices fell to their lowest values ​​in five weeks .

April futures price for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) rose to $ 98.82 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

April futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture rose 90 cents to $ 108.37 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices rose sharply today , reaching the highest level in six months , benefiting from the fall in stock prices , which was due to tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the problems of economic growth in China.

Since the beginning of the week the price of the precious metal rose more than 2 percent , and are on their way to their sixth consecutive weekly increase , as risk appetite decreased by increasing political tensions and economic problems.

Gold rose 14 percent this year after a 28 percent decline in 2013 , ending a 12- year increase in a row.

" As for Ukraine , the impact on gold can disappear quickly if there is a diplomatic solution , whereas the structural changes that occur in China can affect the precious metals longer," reported Deutsche Bank. "But we still believe that the U.S. labor market and the Fed's policy will play a major factor in the movement of prices , and in the long run you will see the price drop ."

It should also be noted that the rise in prices to attract new investors and simultaneously reduces demand in the physical market in developing countries. In the future, gold will meet increasingly strong resistance , and significant growth opportunities would need a stronger euro . Reduction of physical demand in China , at least temporarily prevent a new rally.

In addition, data showed that the world's largest reserves of gold exchange-traded fund secured SPDR Gold Trust rose yesterday to 2.1 tons - up to 813.3 tons.

Demand in China - the world's largest consumer of gold declined and prices on the Shanghai Gold Exchange were at $ 4 per ounce lower than the spot price in London , while at the beginning of the year, prices in China were $ 20 higher.

The cost of the April gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1385.20 per ounce.

USD/JPY Y101.50, Y101.70, Y101.85, Y101.95, Y102.00, Y102.20, Y102.40, Y103.00, Y103.50, Y103.60

EUR/USD $1.3825, $1.3845, $1.3900, $1.3910, $1.3915, $1.3990

GBP/USD $1.6530, $1.6575, $1.6600, $1.6630-35, $1.6640-50, $1.6700, $1.6710

EUR/GBP stg0.8175, stg0.8195, stg0.8210, stg0.8220, stg0.8275, stg0.8350

EUR/CHF Chf1.2185

AUD/USD $0.8900, $0.8925, $0.8950, $0.8970-75, $0.9000, $0.9015, $0.9020, $0.9050, $0.9070-75, $0.9080

USD/CAD C$1.1050, C$1.1100, C$1.1150, C$1.1175, C$1.1200

U.S. stock futures fell amid concern that the situation in Ukraine is escalating.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,327.66 -488.32 -3.30%

Hang Seng 21,539.49 -216.59 -1.00%

Shanghai Composite 2,004.34 -14.77 -0.73%

FTSE 6,527.72 -26.06 -0.40%

CAC 4,209.77 -40.74 -0.96%

DAX 8,991.57 -26.22 -0.29%

Crude oil $99.01 (+0.82%)

Gold $1377.70 (+0.53%).

EUR/USD

Offers $1.4000, $1.3967/75, $1.3920/25, $1.3900/10

Bids $1.3820-00, $1.3770/60, $1.3710/00

GBP/USD

Offers  $1.6720/25, $1.6640-50

Bids $1.6595/90, $1.6555/50, $1.6510/00

AUD/USD

Offers $0.9150, $0.9080, $0.9050

Bids  $0.8950, $0.8910/00

EUR/JPY

Offers Y142.90/00, Y142.50, Y141.90/00, Y141.50

Bids Y140.55/50, Y140.00, Y139.50

USD/JPY

Offers Y103.00, Y102.50/55, Y102.00

Bids Y101.50, Y101.00, Y100.50

EUR/GBP

Offers stg0.8415/20, stg0.8390/405, stg0.8380

Bids stg0.8320/15, stg0.8280/75

European stocks fell, heading for a second week of losses, as investors awaited a referendum that may lead to Crimea’s secession from Ukraine. U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, while Asian shares slid.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined 0.5 percent to 322.87 at 9:57 a.m. in London. The benchmark gauge has fallen 3.1 percent this week as Russia and Ukraine continued their standoff over Crimea, and China reported worse-than-expected economic data. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures added 0.2 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 1.7 percent.

Data at 9:55 a.m. New York time may show consumer confidence in the U.S. improved in March. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index rose to 82 this month from 81.6 in February, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

HeidelbergCement fell for a third day, dropping 2.7 percent to 59.04 euros. Berenberg downgraded construction stocks including the German company to hold from buy, citing shareprice increases over the past year. A gauge of building-related companies has risen 18 percent in the past 12 months for the fourth biggest gain of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600.

Pandora fell 3.4 percent to 347 kroner. Funds managed by Danish private-equity firm Axcel, Pewic Holding ApS and Christian Algot Enevoldsen offered 13 million shares in the transaction, according to a statement from JPMorgan Chase & Co., which is managing the sale along with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Nordea Bank AB. Shares in the company more than doubled over the past year.

Mining companies declined as copper headed for its third weekly loss, the longest streak since June, amid concern over growth in China, the world’s biggest consumer of commodities.

Antofagasta Plc, the copper company controlled by Chile’s billionaire Luksic family, fell 0.8 percent to 828.5 pence. Rio Tinto Group slipped 0.8 percent to 3,136 pence.

FTSE 100 6,538.49 -15.29 -0.23 %

CAC 40 4,219.52 -30.99 -0.73 %

DAX 8,980.14 -37.65 -0.42 %

USD/JPY Y101.50, Y101.70, Y101.85, Y101.95, Y102.00, Y102.20, Y102.40, Y103.00, Y103.50, Y103.60

EUR/USD $1.3825, $1.3845, $1.3900, $1.3910, $1.3915, $1.3990

GBP/USD $1.6530, $1.6575, $1.6600, $1.6630-35, $1.6640-50, $1.6700, $1.6710

EUR/GBP stg0.8175, stg0.8195, stg0.8210, stg0.8220, stg0.8275, stg0.8350

EUR/CHF Chf1.2185

AUD/USD $0.8900, $0.8925, $0.8950, $0.8970-75, $0.9000, $0.9015, $0.9020, $0.9050, $0.9070-75, $0.9080

USD/CAD C$1.1050, C$1.1100, C$1.1150, C$1.1175, C$1.1200

Asian stocks dropped, with a gauge of Chinese shares in Hong Kong flirting with a bear market, after at least four investment banks cut their growth forecasts on the region’s biggest economy. Japan’s Topix Index slid after the yen headed for its longest streak of gains since May.

Nikkei 225 14,327.66 -488.32 -3.30%

S&P/ASX 200 5,329.4 -83.22 -1.54%

Shanghai Composite 2,003.36 -15.75 -0.78%

BHP Billiton Ltd., a mining company that gets about 29 percent of sales from China, slipped 2 percent in Sydney.

Toyota Motor Corp., a carmaker that counts North America as its biggest market, fell 3 percent in Tokyo.

Olam International Ltd. surged 11 percent in Singapore after a unit of Temasek Holdings Pte. offered to buy the rest of the commodity trader in a deal valued at S$5.3 billion ($4.2 billion).

04:30 Japan Industrial Production (MoM) (Finally) January +4.0% +4.0% +3.8%

04:30 Japan Industrial Production (YoY) (Finally) January +10.6% +10.6% +10.3%

The yen headed for its biggest five-day gain versus the dollar in seven weeks as investors sought haven assets amid persisting tension ahead of a referendum that may lead to Crimea’s secession from Ukraine. The U.S. and Germany stepped up pressure on Russia to back down from plans to annex Crimea.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said another round of easing will drive the yen to a six-year low by mid-2014.

The New York-based bank trimmed its 12-month forecast for the Australian dollar, citing a weak domestic outlook. Goldman Sachs cut its 12-month forecast for the Aussie to 80 cents from 85, and the six-month estimate to 82 from 88.

The euro held a decline versus its U.S. counterpart from yesterday, when ECB President Mario Draghi said his forward guidance may help to weaken the euro and lower real interest rates. The bank’s forward guidance states that policy makers will keep official interest rates at present or lower levels for an extended period of time. While the exchange rate isn’t a policy target for the ECB, Draghi said in Vienna yesterday that the currency’s level is becoming “increasingly relevant in our assessment of price stability.”

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.3855-75

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair traded in the range of $ 1.6610-25

USD / JPY: on Asian session the pair fell to Y101.60

The European releases get underway from 0700GMT, when the German final February HICP data is set to cross the wire. At 0730GMT, the Bank of France releases the February retail survey. The last European data release for the week is expected at 1000GMT, when the EMU fourth quarter employment data

crosses the wire. UK data set for release at 0930GMT includes the January trade data and the January construction output numbers. Across the Atlantic, the calendar kicks off with the publication of the February PPI at 1230GMT.  At 1355GMT, the University of Michigan preliminary Consumer Sentiment data will

cross the wires.  Well after the markets close, at 0145GMT, Federal Reserve vice chair nominee Stanley Fischer will deliver a speech to the SIEPR conference in Stanford, California.