Investing.com – The working day and seasonally adjusted current account of the euro zone recorded a deficit of EUR 8.1 billion in January, defying rosier forecasts, a European Central Bank report showed on Thursday.
The deficit came after a surplus of EUR 1.9 billion in the preceding month. Economists had expected a current account surplus of EUR 3 billion in January.
According to the ECB, January's data reflected deficits in current transfers (EUR 6.5 billion), goods (EUR 2.3 billion) and income (EUR 1.4 billion), which were only partly offset by a surplus in services (EUR 2.0 billion).
Following the release of the report, the euro was down against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD sinking 0.42% to hit 1.368.
The deficit came after a surplus of EUR 1.9 billion in the preceding month. Economists had expected a current account surplus of EUR 3 billion in January.
According to the ECB, January's data reflected deficits in current transfers (EUR 6.5 billion), goods (EUR 2.3 billion) and income (EUR 1.4 billion), which were only partly offset by a surplus in services (EUR 2.0 billion).
Following the release of the report, the euro was down against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD sinking 0.42% to hit 1.368.