Daily Market Report – 17/11/2014 EUR The Euro significantly strengthened on Friday after news emerged the euro-zone economy grew 0.2 per cent in the third quarter, according to official figures published by Eurostat, beating expectations of 0.1 per cent growth. The French economy grew faster than economists forecast in the third quarter as domestic demand helped it bounce back from a contraction in the previous three months. Gross domestic product rose 0.3 percent in the EUR The Euro significantly strengthened on Friday after news emerged the euro-zone economy grew 0.2 per cent in the third quarter, according to official figures published by Eurostat, beating expectations of 0.1 per cent growth. The French economy grew faster than economists forecast in the third quarter as domestic demand helped it bounce back from a contraction in the previous three months. Gross domestic product rose 0.3 percent in the three months through September, the most in more than a year. The German economy has narrowly avoided recession, growing 0.1% in the third quarter, the country’s statistics office said. With the economy contracting 0.1% in the April-to-May quarter, another negative figure would have meant Germany entering recession. Germany’s 0.1% contraction in the second quarter was a revision from a previous estimate of a 0.2% shrinkage in the April-to-May period. The statistics office said German consumers had increased spending strongly during the third quarter period, and that exports had also risen.The figures will be seen as good news for the wider euro-zone, whose sluggish growth has forced policy makers to cut interest rates and introduce other stimulus measures. German government forecast growth of 1% next year following a 1.2% expansion in 2014, sighting “geopolitical risks” such as the Ukraine crisis as a potential reason for the slight drop, but also criticised policies such as plans to introduce a minimum wage next year. Further good news for the euro-zone, Greece exited recession and entered growth for the first time since austerity measures were put in place. USD Purchases increased 0.3 percent after a 0.3 percent drop in September, the Commerce Department reported in Washington on Friday. The median forecast was projected a 0.2 percent advance. Eleven of 13 major categories showed gains, indicating broad-based growth. The Commerce Department’s retail sales figures used to calculate gross domestic product, climbed 0.5 percent in October after being little changed the prior month. The September reading was revised up from a previously reported 0.2 percent decrease. The 1.9 percent increase in demand at non-store retailers, which include on line merchants, was the biggest since March. Restaurants, sporting goods, clothing and pharmacies were among the other categories showing a pick up in demand. U.S. consumer sentiment also rose in November to a more than seven-year high as falling unemployment and lower gasoline prices boosted views on both current conditions and expectations, a survey released on Friday showed. The University of Michigan’s preliminary reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment for this month came in at 89.4, the highest reading since July 2007, well above economists expectations. Key Announcements:14:00 EUR : ECB President Draghi Speaks Our dealers are available via e-mail ([email protected]) or by phone (020 7220 8181).