Weekly Outlook: 2014, February 16 - 23

AUD/USD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 17 - 21

The Australian dollar advanced against its U.S. counterpart on Friday to re-approach a one-month high hit earlier in the week, as traders reassessed their expectations for how quickly the Federal Reserve will roll back its stimulus program following the release of disappointing U.S. economic data.

Monday, February 17

• Australia is to publish data on new vehicle sales.
• Markets in the U.S. are to remain closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Tuesday, February 18

• The Reserve Bank of Australia is to publish the minutes of its latest policy meeting, which contain valuable insights into economic conditions from the bank’s perspective.
• The U.S. is to release data on manufacturing activity in the Empire State.

Wednesday, February 19

• Australia is to publish data on the wage price index, as well as a private sector report on an index of leading economic indicators.
• The U.S. is to publish reports on building permits, housing starts and producer price inflation.
• Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.

Thursday, February 20

• China is to release the preliminary reading of the HSBC manufacturing index.
• The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on consumer price inflation. The nation is also to release data on manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.

Friday, February 21

• The U.S. is to round up the week with private sector data on existing homes sales.

USD/CAD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 17 - 21

The Canadian dollar backed away from one-month highs against the U.S. dollar on Friday as unexpectedly weak domestic manufacturing sales data reawakened concerns over the subdued economic outlook.

Monday, February 17

• Markets in the U.S. are to remain closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Tuesday, February 18

• Canada is to produce data on foreign securities purchases.
• The U.S. is to release data on manufacturing activity in the Empire State.

Wednesday, February 19

• Canada is to release data on wholesale sales.
• The U.S. is to publish reports on building permits, housing starts and producer price inflation.
• Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.

Thursday, February 20

• The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on consumer price inflation. The nation is also to release data on manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.

Friday, February 21

• Canada is to publish reports on retail sales and consumer price inflation.
• The U.S. is to round up the week with private sector data on existing homes sales.

NZD/USD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 17 - 21

The New Zealand dollar rose to a one-month high against its U.S. counterpart on Friday, as disappointing U.S. economic data forced investors to recalibrate their assumptions about the future course of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

Monday, February 17

• Markets in the U.S. are to remain closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Tuesday, February 18

• The U.S. is to release data on manufacturing activity in the Empire State.

Wednesday, February 19

• The U.S. is to publish reports on building permits, housing starts and producer price inflation.
• Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.

Thursday, February 20

• The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on consumer price inflation. The nation is also to release data on manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.

Friday, February 21

• The U.S. is to round up the week with private sector data on existing homes sales.

GBP/USD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 17 - 21

The pound ended the week at more than three-year highs against the dollar on Friday, after the Bank of England revised up its forecast for growth this year and indicated that it may raise interest rates next year.

Monday, February 17

• Markets in the U.S. are to remain closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Tuesday, February 18

• The U.K. is to release data on consumer price inflation, which accounts for the majority of overall inflation.
• The U.S. is to release data on manufacturing activity in the Empire State.

Wednesday, February 19

• The U.K. is to release official data on the change in the number of people unemployed and the unemployment rate, as well as data on average earnings and public sector borrowing. Meanwhile, the BoE is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.
• The U.S. is to publish reports on building permits, housing starts and producer price inflation.
• Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.

Thursday, February 20

• The U.K. is to produce private sector data on industrial orders.
• The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on consumer price inflation. The nation is also to release data on manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.

Friday, February 21

• The U.K. is to produce official data on retail sales, the government measure of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity, as well as data on public sector net borrowing.
• The U.S. is to round up the week with private sector data on existing homes sales.

EUR/USD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 17 - 21

The euro rose to three-week highs against the dollar on Friday as stronger-than-forecast euro zone fourth quarter growth data bolstered the outlook for the recovery in the euro area.

Monday, February 17

• In the euro zone, the eurogroup of finance ministers is to hold a meeting in Brussels.
• Markets in the U.S. are to remain closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Tuesday, February 18

• The euro zone is to publish data on the current account. Meanwhile, the ZEW Institute is to release its closely watched report on German economic sentiment, a leading indicator of economic health.
• The U.S. is to release data on manufacturing activity in the Empire State.

Wednesday, February 19

• The U.S. is to publish reports on building permits, housing starts and producer price inflation.
• Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is to publish the minutes of its most recent policy setting meeting.

Thursday, February 20

• The euro zone is to publish closely watched data on manufacturing and service sector activity, while Germany and France are to publish individual reports. Germany is also to publish data on producer price inflation.
• The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims and data on consumer price inflation. The nation is also to release data on manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.

Friday, February 21

• The U.S. is to round up the week with private sector data on existing homes sales.

In this shortened Tuesday-Friday trading week, investors will watch minutes from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday and key U.S. housing and inflation data scattered from Wednesday to Friday.

• Tuesday brings earnings from Coca-Cola, Herbalife and BHP Billiton, but not much U.S. economic news is scheduled.
• Wednesday is a big day for economic news, with the U.S. Federal Reserve releasing minutes of its January 28-29 meeting at 2 p.m.
  Investors will examine the details of these minutes for any signs of a possible change in future guidance on interest rates and any hints on the pace at which the Fed will continue to reduce its monthly bond-buying stimulus program. Wednesday also brings updates on U.S. housing construction and the U.S. January producer price index. Earnings are expected from Carlyle Group and Marriott International.
• Thursday brings news on January U.S. consumer prices as well as the U.S. leading indicators index. Earnings are expected from Wal-Mart Stores, Hewlett-Packard and Priceline.com
• Friday brings news on U.S. existing home sales and earnings from Charter Communications, which may comment on the ongoing consolidation in the cable industry.

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USD/CAD Fundamentals - weekly outlook: February 24 - 28

The Canadian dollar ended the week lower against the U.S. dollar on Friday, following the release of weaker-than-expected domestic data on retail sales and tame inflation data.

Tuesday, February 25

• The U.S. is to release data on consumer confidence and a private sector report on house price inflation.

Wednesday, February 26

• The U.S. is to release data on new home sales, a leading indicator of demand in the housing market

Thursday, February 27

• Canada is to produce data on the current account.
• The U.S. is to release data on durable goods orders, a leading indicator of production, and the weekly report on initial jobless claims.

Friday, February 28

• Canada is to publish the monthly report on GDP growth, the broadest indicator of economic activity and the leading measure of the economy’s health.
• The U.S. is to round up the week with revised data on fourth quarter growth, a report on manufacturing activity in the Chicago region, revised data on consumer sentiment and private sector data on pending home sales.

The estimation of a currency rises or falls in relation to the powers of interest and supply. At the point when the interest for a currency surpasses the accessible stock, the estimation of the currency will in general ascent. Then again, when the stockpile of a currency surpasses the accessible interest, the estimation of the currency will in general fall. At the point when traders take a gander at economic elements, they are looking for one watchword: development. At the point when development is non-existent or negative, he estimation of the nation's currency will in general fall.