It is shaping up as a big week for markets with a plethora of information set for release from around the world.

The EUR/USD looked set for another strong showing but fell sharply midway through the trading day. The pair opened at $1.15928 and remained flat early, before kicking up to a high of $1.16099. From there however the euro fell heavily until it bottomed-out at $1.15331 late in the day. It mounted a small recovery to round out Friday but has opened lower this morning and is currently trading at $1.15508. The GBP/USD also weakened on Friday after opening at $1.32271. The pair remained flat for several hours, peaking at $1.32569 before the rot set in. the pound fell in later trading, hitting lows of $1.31448 in the closing hour of the week. It opened this morning over half a cent lower and is struggling at $1.31055.

The Dow shrugged off some disastrous sessions over the previous two days to eek out a gain on Friday. The index opened at 25,210.18 and rallied throughout early trading at hit a high of 25,543.92. It could not hold onto those highs as it fell back slightly then traded flat for several hours. Late-session trading saw the Dow plummet to lows of 24,989.13. However, it managed to pare back some of those losses and closed at 25,314.20. It is currently trading at 25,284.10. The struggles continue for the ailing Dax, weighed down by Brexit negotiations and problems in Italy. The German index opened at 11,627.65 and lifted to an opening-hour high of 11,704.70. From there however, the Dax began its all-to-familiar slide, declining to a low of 11,420.60 late in the session. The Dax then mounted a spirited comeback and managed to close at 11,581.20.

The week ahead is full of significant data which could bring plenty of volatility with it. The data released today and the most significant this week includes:

Today – US Retail & Core Retail Sales, Empire State Manufacturing Index, Business Inventories, Japanese Revised Industrial Production, Swiss PPI

Tuesday – BoC Business Outlook Survey, NZ CPI, UK Average Earnings Index

Wednesday – UK CPI

Thursday – FOMC Meeting Minutes, Australian Employment Change & Unemployment Rate, UK Retail Sales, EU Economic Summit, BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks

Friday – China GDP, Industrial Production and Fixed Asset Investment, Canadian CPI & Core Retail Sales, BoE Governor Mark Carney & BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speak

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