The euro reached 2.5 -year high against the dollar and retreated under a thin market and low trading volume , which contribute to significant fluctuations . Today the economic calendar contains European and American data. Influenced the course of trading statement by a member of the Governing Board of the European Central Bank , Jens Weidmann , who said that the ECB should raise rates if inflationary risks in the euro area will increase. He noted that the persistence of low rates for an extended period may have a negative impact on policy reforms in the economies of the euro zone , adding that weak inflationary pressures do not give right to any easing of monetary policy . " We must take care to raise interest rates again . Euro area only gradually recovering from the worst economic crisis in the postwar period , and pricing risks are negligible. This justifies the low base rates ," he said .

The yen fell against the dollar , reaching at this level Y105 to the dollar for the first time since October 2008 , amid rumors that the recent rally was excessive , and the technical indicators signal an overbought against the yen . Also, add that market participants put on divergence rates of the Federal Reserve System, which has moved to reduce the incentives , and the Bank of Japan announced its readiness to expand if necessary unprecedented program to support the economy . Recall that at its last meeting, the Fed decided to cut the current program to stimulate the economy with $ 85 billion to $ 75 billion in the meantime, the Bank of Japan monthly buys government bonds worth more than 7 trillion yen ( $ 67 billion ) in an attempt to put an end to 15 years of deflation.

Also falling yen was associated with the release of inflation data in Japan. In November figure exceeded 1% for the first time since 2008 that a marked progress in the policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , unreduced to overcome 15 years of falling prices in the third largest economy in the world. Prices excluding fresh food rose by 1.2 % compared with a year earlier. Figure exceeded the median forecast of economists, who expect prices to rise by 1.1%.

Pound earlier rose to its highest level in more than two years against the dollar on increasing confidence about the recovery of the UK economy , which is caused by the revival of the housing market.

According to the average forecasts of experts , the British housing prices , which are calculated Nationwide Building Society, rose 0.7 percent in December , compared with an increase of 0.6 percent last month . Add that this report will be presented next week .

"We expect that the economic recovery in the UK will continue at a solid pace in the next year , which will support capital investments and improving domestic demand," said Geoffrey Yu, senior currency strategist at UBS AG. " This should support the pound ."

Moreover, economists expect that the UK economy will grow by 2.4 percent next year , that will be the strongest pace since 2007 , compared with 1.4 percent expansion , which is projected for this year.

European stocks rose, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index posting the longest winning streak in two months, after U.S. jobless claims dropped more than forecast and markets reopened following the Christmas holiday.

The Stoxx 600 rose 1.1 percent to 327.68 at the close of trading, for its sixth consecutive gain, the longest winning streak since Oct. 22. The gauge climbed 2 percent this week and has added 17 percent this year, putting it on course for its largest annual increase since 2009, as the European Central Bank and the Bank of England pledged to leave interest rates near record lows for a prolonged period.

In the U.S., a Labor Department report yesterday showed that jobless claims declined by 42,000 to 338,000 in the week ended Dec. 21. The median forecast of 42 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a drop to 345,000.

National benchmark indexes advanced in all 18 western-European markets today. France’s CAC 40 gained 1.4 percent, Germany’s DAX added 1.1 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.9 percent.

Vestas Wind Systems climbed 1.8 percent to 159.80 kroner. The world’s biggest wind-turbine maker said Dec. 24 that it won a 110-megawatt order from an undisclosed customer in the U.S.

Novo Nordisk rose 1.1 percent to 986 kroner. The FDA approved the company’s Tretten drug for the prevention of bleeding in adults and children who have a rare clotting disorder, according to an announcement late Dec. 23.

FLSmidth & Co. A/S gained 3.6 percent to 290.30 kroner as the Danish mining-equipment maker said it received an order worth 515 million kroner ($95 million) to supply a cement production line in Qatar.

Electrawinds SE jumped 7.7 percent to 91.4 euro cents after the renewable-energy developer and its Electrawinds NV unit received court protection for three months to negotiate a reorganization with creditors.

The cost of oil brand West Texas Intermediate continued to rise after the Department of Energy data showed a drop in U.S. oil inventories .

According to data published in the U.S. this week , December 16-22, oil reserves fell by 4.731 million barrels to 367.574 million barrels , while gasoline stocks fell by 0.614 million barrels . to 219.872 million barrels . , while distillate stocks fell by 1.85 million barrels . to 114.105 million barrels . Refining capacity utilization rate was 92.7 % against 91.5 % a week earlier .

The tone of trading on Friday also asked the positive data on the U.S. labor market . According to the released data on Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department , the number of initial claims for jobless benefits in the week December 15-21 declined significantly more than expected . These findings are the latest in a series of economic reports showing the acceleration of U.S. GDP growth , which, according to market participants, can increase consumer spending on discretionary goods demand , such as gasoline .

On the eve of futures prices for gasoline and diesel fuel reached multi-month highs on expectations of a relatively high demand for petroleum products .

Gasoline prices also got support from news that Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania , owned by Delta Air Lines Inc. 'S (DAL), plans to conduct technical work next week.

Cost February futures on U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) rose to $ 100.67 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

February futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell 4 cents to $ 111.94 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

The price of gold increases the third consecutive session on the background of increasing demand in Asia, according to data exchanges .

"A small amount of trades in the western areas indicates that the gold recovered in the price due to the increase in physical demand in Asia ," - said the agency MarketWatch publisher NicholsOnGold.com Jeffrey Nichols .

The experts believe that the stock markets will greatly affect the price of the precious metal . " If the stock markets will be held in a robust , it will negatively affect gold ," - he added.

Some traders say that , in their opinion, the fund managers will not make major changes in their portfolios before the end of the year , in connection with which stocks can continue to rise .

In the long term negative impact on gold may affect factors such as the global economic recovery , supported by macro data in countries such as the United States , as well as further reduction of the quantitative easing program the Fed USA.

On Thursday, data released , according to which the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. in the week December 15-21, declined for the first time in three weeks on 42,000 and adjusted for seasonal variation was 338,000 . Decline was greater than expected by economists .

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1218.50 per ounce.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) closed at a record amid optimism over the economic recovery.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,178.94 +4.50 +0.03 %

Hang Seng 23,243.24 +63.69 +0.27 %

Shanghai Composite 2,101.25 +28.15 +1.36 %

FTSE 6,747.39 +53.22 +0.80 %

CAC 4,264.62 +46.21 +1.10 %

DAX 9,564.36 +75.54 +0.80 %

Crude oil $99.89 (+0.34%).

Gold $1212.00 (-0.02%).

USD/JPY Y103.00, Y103.50, Y103.80, Y104.50, Y105.00

EUR/USD $1.3570, $1.3600, $1.3650

AUD/USD $0.8900, $0.9105, $0.9150

EUR/GBP stg0.8480

USD/CAD Cad1.0605, Cad1.0700

Data

1:30 Japan Changes in the level of wages, y / y in November +0.1% +0.4% +0.5%

The euro rose to the highest level since October 2011 in relation to the dollar as a thin market and low trading volumes contribute to significant fluctuations . In addition, the course of trade affected statement by a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank , Jens Weidmann , who said that the ECB should raise rates if inflationary risks in the euro area will increase. He noted that the persistence of low rates for an extended period may have a negative impact on policy reforms in the economies of the euro zone , adding that weak inflationary pressures do not give right to any easing of monetary policy . " We must take care to raise interest rates again . Euro area only gradually recovering from the worst economic crisis in the postwar period , and pricing risks are negligible. This justifies the low base rates ," he said .

The yen fell against the dollar , reaching at this level Y105 to the dollar for the first time since October 2008 , amid rumors that the recent rally was excessive , and the technical indicators signal an overbought against the yen . Also, add that market participants put on divergence rates of the Federal Reserve System, which has moved to reduce the incentives , and the Bank of Japan announced its readiness to expand if necessary unprecedented program to support the economy . Recall that at its last meeting, the Fed decided to cut the current program to stimulate the economy with $ 85 billion to $ 75 billion in the meantime, the Bank of Japan monthly buys government bonds worth more than 7 trillion yen ( $ 67 billion ) in an attempt to put an end to 15 years of deflation.

Also falling yen was associated with the release of inflation data in Japan. In November figure exceeded 1% for the first time since 2008 that a marked progress in the policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , unreduced to overcome 15 years of falling prices in the third largest economy in the world. Prices excluding fresh food rose by 1.2 % compared with a year earlier. Figure exceeded the median forecast of economists, who expect prices to rise by 1.1%.

Pound rose to its highest level in more than two years against the dollar on increasing confidence about the recovery of the UK economy , which is caused by the revival of the housing market.

According to the average forecasts of experts , the British housing prices , which are calculated Nationwide Building Society, rose 0.7 percent in December , compared with an increase of 0.6 percent last month . Add that this report will be presented next week .

"We expect that the economic recovery in the UK will continue at a solid pace in the next year , which will support capital investments and improving domestic demand," said Geoffrey Yu, senior currency strategist at UBS AG. " This should support the pound ."

Moreover, economists expect that the UK economy will grow by 2.4 percent next year , that will be the strongest pace since 2007 , compared with 1.4 percent expansion , which is projected for this year.

EUR / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.3824 , but then fell to $ 1.3805

GBP / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.6577 , then back up to $ 1.6500

USD / JPY: during the European session, the pair fell to Y104.64, but recovered to a maximum session

EUR/USD

Offers $1.3900, $1.3870/80, $1.3855, $1.3850, $1.3820

Bids $1.3760/50, $1.3735/30, $1.3700, $1.3650

AUD/USD

Offers $0.9020, $0.9000, $0.8985/90, $0.8955/60, $0.8950

Bids $0.8877, $0.8855/50, $0.8825/20, $0.8800, $0.8780

GBP/USD

Offers $1.6600, $1.6580, $1.6550, $1.6520, $1.6505

Bids $1.6460/40, $1.6410/00, $1.6385/80, $1.6350

EUR/JPY

Offers Y146.50, Y146.00, Y145.50, Y145.20, Y145.00, Y144.80

Bids Y144.25/20, Y144.00, Y143.85/80, Y143.60/50, Y143.10/00

USD/JPY

Offers Y106.20, Y106.00, Y105.80, Y105.15/20

Bids Y104.50, Y104.20, Y104.00, Y103.80/75

EUR/GBP

Offers stg0.8467, stg0.8450, stg0.8435/40, stg0.8415/20, Stg0.8400, stg0.8385/90

Bids stg0.8320, stg0.8300/290, stg0.8260/50, stg0.8250, stg0.8220

European stocks rose, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbing for a sixth day, after U.S. jobless claims dropped more than forecast and as markets reopen after the Christmas holiday. U.S. index futures were little changed and Asian shares advanced.

The Stoxx 600 increased 0.5 percent to 325.87 at 8:21 a.m. in London. European stocks on Dec. 24 completed their biggest five-day rally since July. The Stoxx 600 has gained 17 percent this year, putting it on course for its best annual performance since 2009, as the European Central Bank and the Bank of England pledged to leave interest rates near record lows for a prolonged period.

In the U.S., a Labor Department report yesterday showed that jobless claims declined by 42,000 to 338,000 in the week ended Dec. 21. The median forecast of economists berg called for a drop to 345,000.

Debenhams advanced 1.4 percent to 82.55 pence. The Times said some institutional investors have criticized Chief Financial Officer Simon Herrick’s performance. The newspaper didn’t cite anyone and the retailer declined to comment.

Electrawinds SE, a renewable-energy developer, jumped 7.7 percent to 91.4 euro cents after the company and its Electrawinds NV unit received court protection for three months to negotiate a reorganization with creditors.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S climbed 2.4 percent to 160.70 kroner. The world’s biggest wind turbine maker said late on Dec. 24 that it won a 110-megawatt order from an undisclosed customer in the U.S.

FTSE 100 6,737.13 +42.96 +0.64%

CAC 40 4,260.25 +41.84 +0.99%

DAX 9,559.42 +70.60 +0.74%

USD/JPY Y103.00, Y103.50, Y103.80, Y104.50, Y105.00

EUR/USD $1.3570, $1.3600, $1.3650

AUD/USD $0.8900, $0.9105, $0.9150

EUR/GBP stg0.8480

USD/CAD Cad1.0605, Cad1.0700

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index headed for the biggest weekly gain in six weeks, after U.S. jobless claims fell more than forecast.

Nikkei 225 16,178.94 +4.50 +0.03%

S&P/ASX 200 5,324.06 -3.19 -0.06%

Shanghai Composite 2,101.19 +28.09 +1.35%

Mazda Motor Corp., a Japanese carmaker that gets 30 percent of its revenue in North America, climbed 1.9 percent.

Fraser & Neave Ltd. gained 2.7 percent in Singapore after the developer announced a cash distribution to shareholders.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. slumped 5.2 percent in Tokyo after saying it ended development of a diabetes drug on safety concerns.

01:30 Japan Labor Cash Earnings, YoY November +0.1% +0.4% +0.5%

The yen weakened beyond 105 per dollar for the first time since October 2008 on speculation the Bank of Japan will keep easing monetary policy to sustain a recovery as the Federal Reserve pares its debt purchases.

Japan’s currency headed for a nine-week drop, the longest loss since February, after data yesterday showed initial U.S. jobless claims fell more than economists forecast. It slid to a five-year low against the euro as Asian stocks rose for a ninth day, reducing the appeal of the yen as a haven. The majority of analysts polled by Bloomberg News see the BOJ increasing bond buying by June next year.

Japan’s industrial production expanded less than economists forecast last month. The preliminary figure released by the government today showed factory output gained 0.1 percent from October, compared with a median estimate for a 0.4 percent increase in a Bloomberg poll.

The nation’s consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 1.2 percent in November from a year earlier, official figures also showed today. The BOJ is targeting 2 percent inflation in 2015.

Australia’s dollar was set for a 10th weekly decline, the longest streak in more than three decades.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose to $ 1.3745

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose to $ 1.6445

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair rose to Y105.00

Gold $1,210.20 -2.10 -0.17%

Oil $99.56 +0.01 +0.01%

Nikkei 225 16,174.44 +164.45 +1.03%

S&P/ASX 200 Closed

Shanghai Composite 2,073 -33.25 -1.58%

FTSE 100 Closed

CAC 40 Closed

DAX Closed

Dow 16,479.76 +122.21 +0.75%

Nasdaq 4,167.18 +11.76 +0.28%

S&P 500 1,842.02 +8.70 +0.47%

(pare/closed(00:00 GMT +02:00)/change, %)

EUR/USD $1,3690 +0,09%

GBP/USD $1,6409 +0,37%

USD/CHF Chf0,8963 +0,20%

USD/JPY Y104,78 +0,50%

EUR/JPY Y143,46 +0,59%

GBP/JPY Y171,93 +0,87%

AUD/USD $0,8894 -0,34%

NZD/USD $0,8164 -0,31%

USD/CAD C$1,0646 +0,20%

01:30 Japan Labor Cash Earnings, YoY November +0.1% +0.4%

16:00 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories December -2.9