EUR
Retail sales in the Eurozone rose again in August, although the pace of
increase slowed down from the previous month, figures released on Friday
showed. The index fell from to 51.4 in August from July’s 54-month high of
54.2, but remained above the 50 threshold that signals expansion for the fourth
consecutive month.

Germany the Eurozone’s largest economy, saw sales rise solidly, albeit at
a slower pace than in the previous month, as the headline PMI fell from 57.7 to

EUR
Retail sales in the Eurozone rose again in August, although the pace of
increase slowed down from the previous month, figures released on Friday
showed. The index fell from to 51.4 in August from July’s 54-month high of
54.2, but remained above the 50 threshold that signals expansion for the fourth
consecutive month.

Germany the Eurozone’s largest economy, saw sales rise solidly, albeit at
a slower pace than in the previous month, as the headline PMI fell from 57.7 to
54.7. Meanwhile France fared much worse, falling back into contraction as
sales fell both on monthly and annual rates.

USD
On Friday the US released its headline non-farm payroll figure which showed
employers added 173,000 workers in August and the jobless rate dropped to 5.1
percent, the lowest since April 2008 and a level that the Federal Reserve
considers to be full employment. The gain in payrolls, while less than
forecast, followed advances in July and June that were stronger than previously
reported, the Labour Department said Friday. 

Persistent hiring indicates employers were upbeat about America’s demand
prospects leading up to mounting concerns of further deterioration in emerging
economies. Fed policy makers meeting in less than two weeks will weigh
resilient US employment conditions against the recent turmoil in world
financial markets as they debate the timing of any interest-rate increase.

Key
Announcements
There are now key announcements today.
US Bank Holiday.