American focus : the euro rose

The dollar fell against the euro , thus responding to the not too optimistic data on business activity in the U.S. service sector . As we learned from the report , which was submitted to Markit Economics, activity in the U.S. service sector continued to grow steadily in December , albeit slightly lower than anticipated . According to the report , the final index of business activity for the services sector amounted to 55.7 points in December , compared with the initial reading at the level of 56.0 points, and the final value of November at around 55.9 points . Experts had expected the index to remain unchanged - at the level of 56.0 points. In addition, it was reported that the composite index , which covers the production and service sectors also fell slightly in December - up to 56.1 from 56.2 in November. Nevertheless , the index indicates a strong increase of activity in the manufacturing and services sectors combined.

At the same time , another report showed that in December, the index of business activity in the U.S. service sector , calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell, while reaching the level of 53.0 , compared with the November reading at around 53.9 . According to experts , this indicator would grow to 54.6 . All the basic sub - codes , apart from one in December remained on site expansion ( greater than 50 ) . The greatest impact on the reduction of sub- indices had orders and business activity. Showed growth sub- indices of employment and prices.

Earlier, the euro contributed to the growth of data that showed that growth in the euro zone's private sector accelerated in December , with the support of a significant improvement in the manufacturing sector . On a seasonally adjusted composite index that measures the performance in the industrial sector and the service sector , rose to a three-month high in December - to the level of 52.1 points , compared with 51.7 in November. Add that last result corresponded to preliminary estimates . Recovery headed high in the manufacturing sector , where growth accelerated to the highest level since May 2011 , helped by the improvement in new orders . Meanwhile, it became known that the purchasing managers' index for the services sector fell slightly - to 51.0 points in December from 51.2 in November. The latter figure was in line with the preliminary estimates. Slowdown reflects continuing weakness in some domestic markets.

Pound recovered some lost ground against the dollar, when the British currency declined amid expectations the publication of data on service sector activity . As it became known , the growth in the UK services sector unexpectedly slowed in December , against which the corresponding figure fell below 59 points. However, experts note that the confidence grew and the economy can still record its strongest expansion since 2007 last year.

According to the report , the monthly purchasing managers index (PMI) for the service sector fell to a six-month low in December - to the level of 58.8 points, contrary to the predictions of experts on the growth to the level of 60.4 points from 60.0 points in November . However, this figure remains well above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction. We also add that business confidence about the future rose to its highest level since March 2010 - the corresponding index was 73.5 points , helped by an increase in new orders.

The yen traded upward against the dollar, recovering previously lost ground . Japanese yen helped report , which showed that business activity index for non-manufacturing sector grew in Japan last month , registering with the fourteenth consecutive monthly expansion . This became known to their research results , which were published today Markit Economics. According to the report , the business activity index for the services sector rose to 52.1 points in December , compared with November's three-month low of 51.8 points . This result indicates a slight acceleration of growth in business activity , as well as a continuation of a series of extensions , which lasts for 14 consecutive months. Meanwhile, it became known that the composite PMI , which measures the efficiency in both sectors , namely in the manufacturing and service sectors , remained unchanged in December , reaching 54.0 points in this , and proceeded to point to steady expansion .