Bitcoin retreated on Thursday for the first session in seven on profit-taking as the $4,000 holds ground. 

At Bitstamp, Bitcoin shed $26, or 0.7% to $3,936, with an intraday high at $3,989, and a low at $3,882. 

Bitcoin rose 1.2% on Wednesday, the sixth profit in a row, and the longest such streak since July 2018. 

Market value of cryptocurrencies fell $2 billion on Thursday to $133 billion, after hitting $136 billion on Tuesday, the highest since January 10. 

Market value rose over $23 billion in the last three weeks from $111 billion from $134 billion. 

The CFTC regulatory authority in the US announced a focus on monitoring the crypto market in 2019 to follow up on many security and fraud concerns.

JPMorgan Chase announced intentions to issue a cryptocurrency of its own and test it for the next few months, becoming the first major bank in the US to announce such a step. 

The cryptocurrency is hoped to be used to online payments and with the use of blockchain technologies to support it. 

EUR/USD steadied on Thursday while trading in a tight range as investors avoid major positions ahead of data. 

EUR/USD traded at 1.1335, with an intraday high at 1.1352, and a low at 1.1320. 

EUR/USD lost 0.1% yesterday, the first loss in three days on profit-taking. 

Now markets await German consumer prices data, expected down 0.8%, while France's prices are estimated down 0.5%. 

Now investors await a suite of US data, with the Philly manufacturing index expected up to 14.1 from 17.0 in January, while unemployment claims are estimated down 11 thousand to 228 thousand. 

Durable goods order are expected up 1.6% while core sales are estimated up 0.3%. 

The manufacturing PMI is expected at 54.9, while services PMI are estimated at 54.4. 

The Federal Reserve's minutes for the January meeting reveal that policymakers are ready to hike rates if the economy performed as expected. 

However, the economic picture remains unclear, however, some members still believe in a hike if inflation rose above 2%. 

US dollar tilted lower in Asian trade off February 14 highs against yen, following earlier Japanese data and ahead of US data. 

As of 06:10 GMT, USD/JPY shed 0.11% to 110.73, with a session-low at 110.59, and a high at 110.87. 

Earlier Japanese data showed manufacturing PMI fell to 48.5 from 50.3, while an index tracking the sector fell 0.4%. 

Japan will go for a 10-day national holiday starting April 27 to celebrate the coronation of a new emperor. 

Now investors await a suite of US data, with the Philly manufacturing index expected up to 14.1 from 17.0 in January, while unemployment claims are estimated down 11 thousand to 228 thousand. 

Durable goods order are expected up 1.6% while core sales are estimated up 0.3%. 

The manufacturing PMI is expected at 54.9, while services PMI are estimated at 54.4. 

The Federal Reserve's minutes for the January meeting reveal that policymakers are ready to hike rates if the economy performed as expected. 

However, the economic picture remains unclear, however, some members still believe in a hike if inflation rose above 2%. 

Litecoin fell over one percent, or $0.6 on Thursday off November 8 highs for another session on active profit-taking. 

As of 05:42 GMT, Litecoin shed 1.05% to $52.01, with a session-low at $51.354, and a high at $52.617. 

Litecoin is still nearly 17% up this week, and nearly 63% higher for the month after marking very strong gains earlier this week. 

Litecoin is heading for the fifth weekly profit out of six after recently spiking 30% to November 14 highs, while marking a weekly profit of 40%. 

The gains came following the announcement that Litecoin is partnering with Beam to develop new protocols that would enhance privacy. 

Otherwise, Litecoin adopted a new logo with a blue color to replace the main silver design, in order to reflect "confidence" and "speed". 

Litecoin marked ten monthly losses 2018, marking also the longest losing streak since the first half of 2015. 

The Path of Litecoin

Litecoin was first publicly offered in the first half of 2013 at only $3, marking record lows at below $1 in early 2015 before taking off on its long and spotted journey higher. 

The cryptocurrency pierced $100 for the first time on November 29, 2017, before scaling a record high at $370.78 on December 19, and plummeting back below $100 on June 12, before marking 1-1/5 year lows recently at $22.54.