GBP EUR 6 Weeks Highs

Last week saw sterling gain against both EUR and USD after the release of positive UK inflation data and the Bank of England still saying it was unnecessary to raise interest rates, on Wednesday sterling hit a 6 week high against the EUR after posting positive job growth figure. Unemployed falling by 45,000 to 1.56 million in the three months to February. <br>

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Week ahead <br>

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First round of voting in the French elections will take place on Sunday and currently Both Le Pen and Macron’s support dropped by half a point from last week and &nbsp;Francois Fillon was stable on 19 % and Melenchon unchanged on 18.5 %, as we get close to the first round of voting we may see volatility &nbsp;levels , step up again. This week&nbsp; there are various data releases to keep an eye on which could certainly move markets either way, Tuesday US Industrial production, Wednesday EUR zone trade balance and US crude oil Inventories, Thursday consumer confidence from the EUR zone and US unemployment claims and &nbsp;Rounding the week off on Friday the UK we have EUR Markit services PMI, UK retail sales and US flash services PMI. <br>

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Tuesday &nbsp;<br>

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·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US -&nbsp; Building Permits &nbsp;<br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US&nbsp; – Housing Starts <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US – Industrial Production <br>

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Wednesday &nbsp;<br>

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·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EUR – Consumer Price Index <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EUR – Trade Balance &nbsp;<br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US – &nbsp;Crude Oil Inventories <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NZ – Consumer Price Index <br>

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Thursday &nbsp;<br>

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·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EUR – Producer Price Index <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EUR – Consumer Confidence <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US -&nbsp; Philly Fed Manufacturing Index <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US – &nbsp;Unemployment Claims <br>

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Friday <br>

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·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EUR – EUR Markit Services PMI <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; UK &ndash; Retail Sales <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CAD &ndash; CPI <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CAD &ndash; Retail sales <br>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; US -&nbsp; Flash Services PMI <br>