The euro retreated this Friday in the face of lower inflation in the euro zone. However, the dollar remains firm ahead of the figures in the consumer price index and briefly exceeds 145 yen.

Around 09:25 GMT (11:25 CET), the euro fell 0.21% to 1.0842 dollars, the highest level seen in two weeks. The annual inflation rate in the euro area continued to fall in June, falling to 5.5% after 6.1% in May

The yen weakened by surpassing the closely watched 145 per dollar on Friday, although traders' fears of intervention by Japanese authorities kept it under control, while the dollar was also stronger more generally before US inflation data. Foreign exchange markets followed suit and the dollar index rose 0.35% on Thursday, as the US currency gained ground over the euro, which fell by 0.45%

The onshore yuan fell to its lowest level since November at 7.266 per dollar, with the offshore yuan at 7.277 per dollar also its lowest level since November.

The Russian ruble fell to its lowest level in more than 15 months against the dollar on Friday, weighed down by concerns about domestic political risk after an armed mutiny over the weekend and by the absence of supportive engines. At 0644 GMT, the ruble was 0.5% weaker against the dollar at 88.00 after reaching 88.6775, its weakest point since March 29, 2022. It lost 0.7% to trade at 95.74 against the euro and lost 0.5% against the

The South African rand remained stable in early trading on Friday ahead of the budget and trade figures later in the day. At 0625 GMT, the rand traded at 18.7800 against the dollar, near its previous close of

The pound rose slightly and was on track to gain around 1.5% per month, boosted by a sharp rise in UK bond yields throughout the month. The pound was up 0.12% to $1,263, and is expected to gain 1.49% per month. The euro fell by 0.3% against the pound. It is expected to fall very slightly on a monthly basis, after slipping nearly 2% against the pound in May

The pound has gained 4.4% against the dollar this year, but many analysts are beginning to question whether these gains can continue if high interest rates start to weigh on growth.