| Time | Country | Event | Period | Previous value | Forecast | Actual |
|---|
| 07:00 | Germany | Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey | February | -6.9 | -7.8 | -6.7 |
| 07:00 | Switzerland | Trade Balance | December | 4.1 | | 4.0 |
| 11:00 | United Kingdom | CBI retail sales volume balance | January | 8 | 13 | 28 |
USD appreciated against other major currencies in the European session on Thursday, as investors continued to digest yesterday's policy statement of the U.S. Federal Reserve and the comments of its chair Jerome Powell.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), measuring the U.S. currency's value relative to a basket of foreign currencies, climbed 1.12% to 97.02.
The policy statements from the FOMC's latest meeting revealed that the policymakers decided to leave the target range for the fed funds rate unchanged at 0.00-0.25%, as widely expected, and reiterated plans to end asset purchases in early March. In addition, they noted that, given a well-above-target inflation rate and a strong labor market, it would soon be appropriate to begin increasing interest rates.
At the post-FOMC press conference, the Fed’s chairman Powell also sounded hawkish. He stated that the FOMC is of a mind to hike interest rates at its March gathering as the conditions are appropriate for doing so. Subsequent rate increases and an eventual reduction in the Fed's asset holdings will follow as needed, Powell added. He, however, noted that no decision has been made yet on the paths of rates or the balance sheet.