The US Dollar was broadly stronger across the board yesterday as a return in risk appetite following last week’s developments out of North Korea led to a sell-off in the traditionally “safer” currencies. Today’s US retail sales, seen by the Federal Reserve as one of the main economic data releases of the month, could shift the currency this afternoon. Ahead of Thursday’s FOMC meeting minutes, financial markets have continued to push their expectations for the next interest rate increase by the Fed and are now pricing in the next hike as far out as June 2018.

In the Eurozone, industrial production was a slight disappointment in June with output declining 0.6% from the downwardly revised 1.2% registered in May. Thursday’s inflation numbers and European Central Bank meeting accounts are undoubtedly the main focal points of the week in Europe. In the run-up to these announcements the Euro is likely to remain fairly range bound, barring any significant new rhetoric from either Donald Trump or North Korean authorities that could provide a catalyst for a renewed shift to safe havens., Hi, I am a new blog post, you can change me, or even delete me!, it is up to you! 😉