European session: the pound rose

08:15 Switzerland Producer & Import Prices, m/m December +0.3% +0.5% 0.0%

08:15 Switzerland Producer & Import Prices, y/y December -0.4% -0.5% -0.4%

09:30 United Kingdom Retail Sales (MoM) December +0.3% +0.5% +2.6%

09:30 United Kingdom Retail Sales (YoY) December +1.8% Revised From +2.0% +2.5% +5.3%

10:00 Eurozone Construction Output, m/m November -1.1% Revised From -1.2% -0.6%

10:00 Eurozone Construction Output, y/y November -2.3% Revised From -2.4% -1.7%

The euro declines against the U.S. dollar against the background data on the reduction of construction in the eurozone. As shown by statistical office Eurostat, the volume of construction in the Eurozone fell for the third month in a row in November.

Total construction fell by 0.6 percent on a monthly measurement after falling 1.1 percent in October , which was revised from 1.2 percent fall , originally dubbed . Building construction decreased by 1.1 percent , while civil engineering grew by 1 percent.

In the 28 countries of the EU construction output fell 1.1 percent in the month , after falling 0.3 percent in the previous month . Volume of construction fell for the third month in a row.

The biggest monthly decline was observed in the Czech Republic , Romania and the UK . The highest growth was recorded in Slovenia, Poland and Hungary.

In annual terms in the eurozone construction volume decreased by 1.7 percent in November , after falling 2.3 percent in October , revised from 2.4 percent fall . In the 28 countries of the EU construction volume decreased by 1.6 percent after a 1 percent decline in October , which was revised to a drop by 0.8 percent.

The British pound rose sharply on the back of strong retail sales data . Retail sales in the UK rose in December , with the annual growth rate was the fastest in more than nine years. Sales far exceeded analysts 'expectations and pointed to consumers' desire to spend money on as the British economy recovers.

According to the data , retail sales in December rose by 5.3% compared with the same period last year. This is the highest annual growth rate since October 2004 . Compared with the previous month sales rose 2.6% , and it was the strongest monthly increase since February 2010, the Bureau of Statistics reported .

Retail sales growth exceeded analysts' expectations. Economists were to grow sales in December was only 0.5 % compared to November and 2.5% compared to December 2012 .

Excluding automotive fuel retail sales rose by 2.8 percent on a monthly measurement of December , beating the consensus increase by 0.3 percent . Annualised sales recorded an increase of 6.1 percent , which is much faster than expected growth of 3.2 percent .

These data indicate a strong growth of the British economy in the 4th quarter of last year , after rising by 3.2% year on year in Q3 .

EUR / USD: during the European session, the pair fell to $ 1.3586

GBP / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.6458

USD / JPY: during the European session, the pair rose to Y104.48