Brent crude oil prices remain under pressure today

European shares opened lower this morning, but reversed their gains supported by better than expected PMI data. Currently, most European shares trade little changed. US Equities opened flat despite better than expected earnings from GE and Honeywell.
The ECB will signal the future path of its quantitative easing programme in the fourth quarter, ECB's Nowotny said, suggesting a decision is unlikely at the September meeting.
The euro zone's public finances have improved to their best level since the debt crisis with the overall government deficit dropping to 1.6% in the first quarter from 2.3% at the end of last year. Total government debt however inched up to 91.7% of GDP from 90.7% at the end of 2015.
France's top court has ruled today that IMF chief Christine Lagarde must stand trial in France over a 2008 arbitration ruling that handed 400 million euros to a politically‐connected business magnate.
Brent crude oil prices remain under pressure today, hovering around $46/barrel and testing key support levels around $45;90/barrel. The WTI remains under pressure too, trading at its lowest level in more than two months ($44.50/barrel).
During the weekend, G20 Finance Ministers and Central bankers meet in China.

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EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.