A whole swathe of data is scheduled for release this week, giving traders plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the volatility that will ensue.

The USD gained in strength on Friday, pushing paired currencies down as we ended another busy trading week. The EURUSD began the day at $1.10485 and traded in a tight range early in the day, nudging up to a high of $1.10550 mid-session. The euro started its slide shortly afterwards, hitting lows of $1.10156 late in the day. It is not far off those lows, currently trading at $1.10202. The GBPUSD followed a similar trading pattern to the euro after opening the day at $1.28070. The pound traded in a tight range for most of the day, lifting to a high of $1.28224 mid-session. Late trading saw the pound fall to lows of $1.27678. It has come off those lows, currently trading $1.27896.

The Dow ended Friday slightly lower after beginning the day at 27,714.01. The index ticked up to a high of 27,749.04 early in the day before retracing and remaining flat for a large portion of the day. Late trading saw the Dow drop to lows of 27,579.07 before bouncing back and closing at 27,665.49. The Dax, being weighed down by the Dow, ended Friday lower. The German index opened the day at 13,285.20 and edged up to highs of 13,288.66 in the opening hour of trade. It came off those highs shortly afterwards and eventually hit lows of 13,196.03 late in the day. It rebounded off those lows and closed at 13,262.89.

The week ahead is packed with important economic data, while the UK election, Brexit and US-China trade talks continue to simmer in the background. Data published today and the most significant this week include:

Today – UK Prelim GDP (q/q), GDP (m/m), Manufacturing Production, Construction Output, Good Trade Balance, Index of Services, Industrial Production, Prelim Business Investment, German WPI, Italian Industrial Production, Japanese Current Account, BoJ Summary of Opinions, Bank Lending, Core Machinery Orders, Economy Watchers Sentiment

Tuesday – China New Loans, NZ Inflation Expectations

Wednesday – UK CPI, Australian Wage Price Index, NZ Official Cash Rate, RBNZ Monetary Policy Statement, Rate Statement and Press Conference

Thursday – US CPI & Core CPI, UK Retail Sales, Australian Employment Change and Unemployment Rate, Fed Chair Jerome Powell Testifies

Friday – US Retail & Core Retail Sales, BoC Governor Stephen Poloz speaks, Fed Chair Jerome Powell Testifies

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