Pound Sterling
GBP/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.6622
The Pound closed the week in a stronger position against many of its most traded currency counterparts. The British asset was supported against its peers as yesterday’s impressive UK retail sales report and today’s surprisingly upbeat UK consumer sentiment data added to the case for the Bank of England increasing interest rates sooner rather than later.

US Dollar
USD/GBP – Trading in the Region of 0.6017
While the ‘Greenback’ is preparing to post five-day declines against the Australian and New Zealand Dollars, the US currency was able to advance on a softening Euro. Today’s US personal income figures and University of Michigan confidence index could inspire some additional US Dollar movement.

Euro
EUR/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.3733
Although a gauge of economic confidence for the Eurozone achieved its highest level since mid-2011 in March, inflation concerns kept the Euro trading lower as the European session progressed on Friday.

Australian Dollar
AUD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.9252
As China’s Premier indicated that the government will intercede in order to prevent a worsening of the nation’s economic slowdown the Australian Dollar extended recent gains. The ‘Aussie’ is enjoying a bullish relationship with peers like the ‘Greenback’ ahead of next week’s Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision.

New Zealand Dollar
NZD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8675
The ‘Kiwi’ advanced on the majority of its rivals overnight but was trading at a multi-week low against the Australian Dollar. With economic news for New Zealand limited next week, global developments will be the main cause of movement in the domestic currency.

Canadian Dollar
CAD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.9078
The Canadian Dollar edged lower against a bullish Pound on Friday but managed to strengthen against a floundering Euro. The CAD/USD pairing was trading in a fairly narrow range ahead of the release of US data.

Japanese Yen
USD/JPY – Trading in the Region of 102.3600
While economists’ appetite for higher-risk assets remained strong, the Yen was able to claw back some losses following the publication of encouraging Japanese inflation figures.

South African Rand
USD/ZAR – Trading in the Region of 10.6095
After hitting a three-month high against the US Dollar yesterday the Rand was little-changed on Friday. The emerging-market asset was supported on Thursday by the news that the South African Reserve Bank refrained from increasing interest rates.