StockMarketWire.com - The euro was lower against the US dollar but up against strerling on Thursday morning after the French Trade deficit widened more than expected in December. The markets meanwhile kept their powder dry ahead of comments by European Central Bank president Mario Draghi.
The single currency was trading 0.31% lower at $1.3562 against the dollar while it was 0.21% higher against sterling at £0.8654 in morning trading.
The French Finance Ministry reported this morning that the trade deficit widened to €5.3 billion in December compared to the previous month when it came in at €4.3 billion. Analysts had expected the French trade deficit to print at €4.2 billion.
Elsewhere, market-watchers expected the ECB to leave interest rates unchanged at 0.75% on Thursday. Draghi's comments following that announcement however will be closely scrutinised for clues that he is concerned over the impact of the euro’s recent gains on the region’s economic recovery.
At 9:17am:
Story provided by StockMarketWire.com
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