Another week packed with data, while a few central banks will be holding interest rate meetings.

The USD strengthened on Friday, sending paired currencies down to end the week. The EURUSD began Friday at $1.11352 and ticked up to a high of $1.11420 early in the day. The euro remained near those levels for a few hours before the decline set in. Mid and late session trading saw the pair fall, eventually bottoming-out at $1.10856 and remaining near those lows for the rest of the day. It is now trading at $1.10897. The GBPUSD started Friday at $1.30783 and was flat early before climbing to a high of $1.31180 mid-session. A sharp sell-off shortly afterwards saw the pound tumble into the closing, ending the session at a low of $1.30050. It has opened Monday slightly lower and is currently trading at $1.30006.

The Dow was very much a non-event on Friday, trading in a tight range for the entire day as it took a break from the recent rallies. The index opened the day at 29,289.23 and slipped to lows of 29,280.05 in the first hour of trade. It came off those lows and slowly climbed throughout the day, hitting a high of 29,400.36 late before closing at 29,311.50. It is now trading at 13,541.83. The Dax posted some small gains on Friday after opening at 13,484.44. The German index dipped to lows of 13,473.51 early before bouncing back to life and climbing to highs of 13,561.95 mid-session. It came off those highs and remained steady for the rest of the day, closing at 13,541.83.

The week ahead is packed with data, while a few central banks will be meeting to discuss monetary policy. The BoJ meets on Tuesday, while the BoC and ECB meets on Thursday where interest rates are expected to remain on hold in all three countries.

Data published today and the most significant this week includes:

Today – UK Rightmove HPI, China Foreign Direct Investment, German PPI, German Buba Monthly Report, Eurogroup Meetings

Tuesday – BoJ Policy Rate, Outlook Report, Monetary Policy Statement and Press Conference, UK Average Earnings Index

Wednesday – Canadian CPI

Thursday – BoC Overnight Rate, Rate Statement, Monetary Policy Report and Press Conference, ECB Main Refinancing Rate, Monetary Policy Statement and Press Conference, Australian Employment Change and Unemployment Rate

Friday – European, German, French and UK Flash Services & Manufacturing PMIs, Canadian Core Retail Sales, NZ CPI, ECB President Christine Legarde speaks

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