It is the final trading day of this week, so let's take a look at the potential market moving publications. The high importance UK Retail Sales report for January opens this agenda at 9:30 in the morning. According to the Office for National Statistics, the quantity bought in December was nearly one percent down from the previous month. All sectors except food and fuel stores declined on the month. Euro zone Trade Balance for December follows a half an hour later. The seasonally adjusted trade surplus surprised on the upside in November as it expanded above the 15 billion Euro level. A couple of reports regarding the US economy then will be available at 1:30 PM GMT, including the Empire State Survey for February. According to the New York Fed, the headline general business conditions index fell eight points to 3.9 in the year's opening month. This is the lowest level in well over a year. Import prices for January is the other item scheduled for publication at this time. Prices for US imports decreased by one percent in the final month of 2018, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month. The US data run then continues at a quarter past 2 PM, when the Industrial Production stats for January will be available. Production increased for the second consecutive month in December and for the fourth quarter the total production increased at an annual rate of 3.8 percent. Preliminary University of Michigan Survey for February is up next at 3 PM GMT. The January Consumer sentiment stood at the lowest level since Trump was elected as the end of shutdown failed to lift the spirits. The US Treasury International Capital Data report for December wraps up this agenda at 9 PM GMT. The Department of the Treasury reported that taking into account transactions in both foreign and US securities, net foreign purchases of long-term securities were 37.6 billion US Dollars in November.
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