American focus : the euro rose against the dollar significantly

The euro exchange rate rose sharply against the dollar , which was mainly due to the release of data on the euro area. Eurozone inflation was 0.8 percent for the third month in a row in February , showed preliminary estimate of Eurostat , published on Friday . Inflation is projected to slow down to was 0.7 percent. Inflation has remained below the target of the European Central Bank " below but close to 2 percent," the thirteenth consecutive month and is in the four-year low .

The unemployment rate in the euro area remained at 12 per cent from October , showed on Friday Eurostat data . Result is consistent with economists' expectations . In January, 19.17 million people were unemployed in the euro area . The number of people unemployed increased by 17,000 in December , while it fell by 67,000 in January 2013.

Also support euro was U.S. data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which showed that at the end of January, the number of pending home sales remained virtually unchanged . The report NAR said that the index of pending home sales rose last month by 0.1 percent - to 95.0 points , after falling 5.8 percent in December - to 94.9 points, which was revised to improve on - 8.7 percent . Economists had expected the index to rise more significantly , namely by 2.9 percent . Recall that open trade - a signed contract , but not yet closed . Usually takes four to six weeks to close a contract for the sale . Despite the modest monthly increase in the index of pending sales are now 9.0 percent below the January 2013 index ( at 104.4 points).

Pound rose against the dollar on housing data and potrebdoveriyu . UK consumer confidence remained unchanged in February at the highest level in more than six years , as personal financial expectations improved by expanding the background of economic recovery. The consumer confidence index remained unchanged at -7 in February , the highest level since September 2007 . Result noted significant improvement since last February , when the index reached -26 . The survey showed that two of the five indicators used to calculate the index , fell this month , the two sub-indices increased , and one remained unchanged.

Housing prices in the UK rose significantly more rapidly in February , with more than economists forecast . The housing price index rose by 9.4 per cent per annum, after increasing 8.8 percent in January. Economists had expected growth in February at 9 percent. Prices rose twelfth consecutive month. The rise in prices reflects an increase in demand for new homes , supported by record low interest rates , improving access to credit and rising consumer confidence . House prices in the UK averaged 177,846 pounds in February , which is higher than 176,491 pounds a month earlier .