The U.S. dollar eased against its peers on Tuesday, extending losses from previous session, and drifting further down from two-month highs posted last week, as the focus shifted to the first presidential debate, due later in the day.
Eurozone economic confidence index reached a six-month high in September driven by waning pessimism in industry, retail trade, construction and services, survey data from the European Commission showed Tuesday. The economic confidence index rose to 91.1 in September from 87.5 in August. This was the highest score since March and above economists' forecast of 89.0.
Economic confidence from euro area and mortgage approvals data from the UK are due on Tuesday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.45 am ET, the statistical office Insee publishes France's monthly consumer confidence survey data for September. The consumer sentiment index is forecast to fall marginally to 93.0 from 94 in August.
The U.S. dollar was weak against its peers on Monday as rising equities, data showing an improvement in China's industrial profits and optimism about a new coronavirus relief bill in the U.S. dimmed the currency's safe-haven appeal.
The U.S. dollar gained against its peers on Friday on safe-haven appeal after new restrictions in Europe due to a resurgence in Covid-19 cases dampened prospects of economic recovery.
After reporting sharp increases in new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods over the past few months, the Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing durable goods orders climbed much less than expected in the month of August. The Commerce Department said durable goods orders rose by 0.4 percent in August after soaring by an upwardly revised 11.7 percent in July.
The UK budget deficit widened to the highest on record in the financial year-to-date period reflecting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the public finances, with the furlough schemes alone adding GBP 56.0 billion to borrowing as subsidies paid by the central government. During April to August, public sector net borrowing was estimated to have been GBP 173.7 billion.
Public sector finance data from the UK is due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK public sector finance data for August. The budget deficit is forecast to widen to GBP 35.05 billion from GBP 25.94 billion in July.
After staying positive for much of the session till noon, the U.S. dollar turned weak and posted losses against some of its peers on Thursday.
A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday unexpectedly showed another significant increase in new home sales in the U.S. in the month of August. The Commerce Department said new home sales jumped by 4.8 percent to an annual rate of 1.011 million in August after skyrocketing by 14.7 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 965,000 in July.
Turkey's central bank lifted its interest rates unexpectedly by 200 basis points in an attempt to curb the weakness in the lira exchange rate. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, led by Governor Murat Uysal, decided to lift the policy rate, which is the one-week repo auction rate, to 10.25 percent from 8.25 percent.
In a sign of continued weakness in the labor market, the Labor Department released a report on Thursday showing an unexpected uptick in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended September 19th. The report said initial jobless claims inched up to 870,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level of 866,000.
German business confidence improved to a seven-month high in September as the economy showed signs of stabilization despite rising number of coronavirus infection, survey results from the ifo Institute showed Thursday. The business confidence index rose to 93.4 in September from 92.5 in August. This was the highest reading since February but was slightly below economists' forecast of 93.8.
The Swiss franc declined against its key counterparts in the European session on Thursday, after the Swiss National Bank left the policy rate unchanged and reiterated that it is prepared to intervene in currency markets to stem the sharp rise of the safe-haven currency.
The SNB retained the policy...
Switzerland's central bank retained its negative interest rates as policymakers assessed that the expansionary monetary policy stance is needed to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on economic activity and inflation. The Swiss National Bank retained the policy rate and interest on sight deposits at the SNB at a record low -0.75 percent, as widely expected.