From the UK, yesterday, RICS Housing Prices Balance data was published. British property valuers reported a surge of activity on Thursday as property investors tried to beat an increase in transaction taxes on rental investments coming into force in April.The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said there had been the biggest increase in sales since April 2014 last month, and that 74 percent of participants in its monthly poll expected buy-to-let investors boost demand before April's tax rise. RICS's headline price balance held at December's downwardly revised level of +49, undershooting economists' forecasts in a Reuters poll for it to rise to +52 but close to recent highs.
In the US session
Unemployment Claims figures were released. In the week ending February 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted
initial claims was 269,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 285,000. Analysts were anticipating increase to 287,000. The 4-week moving average was 281,250, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 284,750. There were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims.
There will be no major data releases from the UK tomorrow. In the US session Retail Sales and Consumer Sentiment figures are scheduled for a release. Analysts are forecasting 0.1% increase in Retail Sales, while Consumer Sentiment should rise to 92.6.
Figures to watch:
Retail Sales (Friday 14:30)
Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 16:00)