Data released moments ago by the US Census Bureau showed a rise in US retail sales, better than market expectations, as sales rose by about 3% in January, up to $697 billion, compared to a decline of about -1.1% in the December reading, while expectations were for increases of about 1.9%.

. Underlying sales, excluding car prices, grew by 2.3% in June, compared to a decline of about 1.1% recorded in December, and better than expectations, which indicated a growth of 0.9%, as food services and drinking places increased by 25.2%, while sales of general merchandise stores increased by 4.5%.

The US dollar is trading at 103.94 levels, up by about 0.70%, to trade at its highest level in more than a month.