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• U.S. domestic retail sales rose 0.1 percent in August, the smallest gain in six months, but July figures were revised higher, supporting the view of solid consumer spending in the third quarter.

• The University of Michigan’s U.S. consumer sentiment data in early September and last month’s industrial output gain also proved to be bright spots.

• Friday’s data offset this week’s disappointing inflation data, which caused traders to cut their bets inflation is accelerating but did not change their view the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates later this month, analysts said.

• Chicago Fed President Charles Evans on Friday cautioned the central bank’s rate hikes would take a toll on U.S. growth by 2019.

• The euro EUR=EBS climbed to a two-week high earlier on Friday before retreating against the greenback. The common currency was down 0.5 percent at $1.16325, EBS data showed.

Sterling GBP=D3 was 0.3 percent lower at $1.3063 after hitting $1.3145 earlier on Friday, its highest level since July 31, according to Reuters data.

The first of three Brexit summits are set in the coming week, where EU leaders hope to settle an agreement for departing Britain within the next two months.

• U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to announce new tariffs on about $200 billion on Chinese imports as early as Monday, a senior administration official told Reuters on Saturday.

The tariff level will probably be about 10 percent, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the matter. This is below the 25 percent the administration said it was considering for this possible round of tariffs.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Michael Froman, who served as U.S. Trade Representative under former President Barack Obama, offered some advice for Trump's team, but emphasized that the current administration is focusing on "longstanding trade issues."

• The Chinese government may decline to participate in proposed trade talks with the United States later this month if the Trump administration moves forward with additional tariffs on imported Chinese goods, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing Chinese officials.

Fresh trade talks had been proposed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to begin around Sept. 20.

The U.S. had proposed the talks, but at the same time moved forward with planning additional tariffs on some $200 billion of Chinese products, the Journal reported.

• China’s home prices accelerated in August at the fastest pace in nearly two years, a sign that Beijing’s efforts to boost a slowing economy may once again be heating up frothy real estate markets.

• Austria and Germany agree that everything possible must be done to avoid Britain leaving the European Union without a trade deal, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Sunday before a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

• Oil prices pulled back on Friday on concerns additional U.S. tariffs would be placed on Chinese imports, after an earlier rally triggered by worries that more sanctions on Iran might constrict supply.

Crude futures ended the week up more than 1.6 percent.

Brent crude oil futures pulled back on the reports of additional tariffs, dropping 9 cents a barrel to settle at $78.09. The global benchmark fell 2.0 percent on Thursday after rising on Wednesday to its highest since May 22 at $80.13.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures settled up 40 cents at $68.99 a barrel after dropping 2.5 percent on Thursday.

After a volatile week, Brent was set for a 1.6 percent weekly rise and WTI 1.8 percent.

Brent reached a session high of $78.94 a barrel, as speculators attempted to push the price above the $79.00 level.

Reference: Reuters