Forex Top Story

Germany's economy expanded more than initially estimated in the third quarter, despite weaker global growth, delivery bottlenecks and rising inflation, official data showed on Friday. Gross domestic product grew 0.4 percent sequentially in the third quarter, faster than the 0.1 percent rise in the second quarter. The rate was revised up from 0.3 percent estimated on October 28.

Quarterly national accounts and consumer sentiment survey results from Germany are due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Germany's statistical office Destatis is slated to issue detailed GDP data for the third quarter. According to preliminary estimate, the economy had expanded 0.3 percent sequentially.

Germany's business confidence improved more-than-expected in November to reach its highest level in three months from a twenty-nine month low in October, as companies' pessimism regarding the coming months reduced sharply, survey results from the ifo Institute showed on Thursday.

In stark contrast to the monetary policy tightening stance of global central banks, Turkey decided to slash its policy rate by 150 basis points and to end the current rate cut cycle that began in August. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, headed by Sahap Kavcioglu, cut the policy rate to 9.00 percent from 10.50 percent.

Sweden central bank lifted its key interest rate by 75 basis points and signaled additional hike early next year to tame inflation. The Executive Board of Riksbank decided to raise the policy rate by 0.75 percentage points to 2.50 percent. The central bank started tightening its policy in April, when the policy rate was zero percent.

Business confidence survey results from Germany and France are the major statistical reports due on Thursday. At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office Insee publishes business confidence survey results. The business sentiment index is forecast to fall to 102 in November from 103 in October.

South Korea's central bank raised its benchmark rate by a moderate quarter point on Thursday as the slowdown in economic growth is set to be more severe. The Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea unanimously decided to raise the Base Rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent from 3.00 percent. Regarding the size of the rate hike, the board assessed that a quarter point increase is appropriate.

The U.S. dollar fell on Wednesday and posted losses against most of its major counterparts, as the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting suggested the central bank is considering slowing the pace of its interest rate hikes.

The Federal Reserve released the minutes of its early November monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, providing further evidence the central bank is considering slowing the pace of its interest rate hikes. The minutes said a "substantial majority" of meeting participants judged that a slowing in the pace of rate hikes would likely "soon be appropriate."

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. deteriorated less than initially estimated in the month of November, according to revised data released by the University of Michigan on Wednesday.

After reporting a sharp pullback in U.S. new home sales in the previous month, the Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing new home sales unexpectedly rebounded in the month of October.

The Labor Department released a report on Wednesday showing first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits increased by more than expected in the week ended November 19th. The report said initial jobless claims rose to 240,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised level of 223,000.

New orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods jumped by much more than expected in the month of October, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. The report said durable goods orders shot up by 1.0 percent in October after rising by a downwardly revised 0.3 percent in September.

The UK private sector contracted again in November as new orders posted its biggest fall in nearly two years as the rising cost of living squeezed demand in both the manufacturing and services sectors, a closely watched survey showed on Wednesday. The S&P Global/Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply composite output index registered 48.3 in November, up fractionally from 48.2 in October.

The euro area private sector contracted at a slower pace in November reflecting a reduced rate of loss of new business, fewer supply constraints and a pick-up in business confidence, flash survey results from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The composite output index unexpectedly rose to 47.8 in November from 47.3 in October. The reading was seen at 47.0.