Euro falls to two-week lows before weekend

Euro fell to November 28 lows against the greenback on track for the third weekly loss in four, following a stream of data from the euro zone and the US today. 

As of 06:36 GMT, EUR/USD fell 0.55% to 1.1298, with an intraday high at 1.1365, and a two-week trough at 1.1270. 

Earlier German data showed wholesale prices rose 0.2% in November, slowing down from 0.3%, while French manufacturing PMI contracted to 49.7, as services PMI fell to 49.6 from 55.1. 

German services and manufacturing PMIs fell to 52.5 and 51.5 respectively from 53.3 and 51.8, while for the while zone, the services and manufacturing PMIs receded to 51.4 and 51.4 from 53.4 and 51.8. 

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker said the EU is preparing for all scenarios when it comes to Brexit, adding that all information pertaining to the issue will be released by December 19. 

European Council President Donald Tusk warned that EU leaders will not renegotiate the Brexit agreement reached with PM Theresa May, noting the Backstop plan is only an insurance policy to be activated at the last minute to conduct a final trade agreement before the exit. 

The European Central Bank voted yesterday to maintain the main refinancing rate at zero and the deposit rate at minus 0.40%, while carrying on the quantitative easing program this year.

At the post meeting press conference, ECB President Mario Draghi expected no change in rates until summer 2019 in accordance with the goal to keep inflation at 2%, adding the economies in the euro zone still need continued monetary support and easing. 

From the US, retail sales rose 0.2% in November, beating estimates of a 0.1% increase, while down from October's 1.1% increase. 

Core sales, excluding transportation, rose 0.2%, matching estimates and down from 1.1% in October. 

US industrial production rose 0.6% in November, compared to a 0.2% dip in October, beating estimates of a 0.3% increase.

The capacity utilization rate rose to 78.5% from 78.1%, slightly missing estimates of 78.6%. 

Finally, the manufacturing PMI receded to 53.9 from 55.4, while the services PMI slipped to 53.4 from 55.4, missing estimates of 54.7.