In a moment of disappointing disclosure, Eurostat has reported that retail sales figures in the Eurozone were much lower than had originally been expected for December, with overall numbers down 1.6 percent month-on-month. This reduction negate the .9 percent growth experienced during the month of November, and, when combined with the fact that analysts had previously only expected a .7 percent reduction, proves particularly devastating. Eurostat stated that trade in food products, beverages and tobacco, as well as non-food industries were all experiencing reduced sales. Adding further gloom to this prediction is Eurostat’s report that average retail trade in 2013 fell .9 percent in the euro area and .2 percent in the EU when compared to 2012 data.

These revelations will obviously spark increased inquiry into the tactics and strategies the European Central Bank will employ in order to ensure that the recent spark-of-life seen in the Eurozone economic recovery is not snuffed out. Many analysts are predicting that the ECB will take additional steps to promote growth and help the EU continue its tentative steps back into prosperity. In contrast to this news, the Eurozone Final Services Business Activity Index rose .6 percent when compared to last month. Although this fragment of optimism may not be enough to allay all fears, it provides proof that a recovery is indeed a tangible possibility.

The economic recovery in the Eurozone has experienced its fair share of frustrations and hangups throughout the last year. While many analysts remain confident that marked recovery in 2014 is a definite possibility, these current numbers remain a telling indication of just how much ground must be gained before substantive changes can begin to be observed across the EU. Were the ECB to step in and bolster the recovery, analysts must then question whether or not growth becomes a “false positive,” an indication of larger oversight as opposed to genuine development and prosperity.

The ECB has made clear that intervention in situations such as these is completely within the realm of possibility, largely mirroring the sentiments of the Federal Reserve in the United States. Although the US recovery is proceeding at a faster pace than that of the EU, the real test of the effectiveness of these policies can only be season when they are terminated, allowing the economy to adjust and calibrate itself as necessary. When this will happen in either region of the world, however, remains to be seen.

The Foreign Exchange Market, also widely known as FOREX, is a very complex system that requires a lot of understanding in order to successfully make money. Many people enter the market believing it will be a quick and easy way of earning money, but this simply isn’t the case.

When opening your very first account with Forex, it’s advisable to start out with just a small practice account. It’s a good idea to enter the market with at least $1000 as a minimum in order to compensate for any small losses in the beginning. The biggest thing to watch out for however, is most certainly your Greed! With the market being extremely fast moving, be aware that by making too many quick moves could result in a financial loss. Try and find a strategy that works for you, firstly make sure you fully understand how to play the market, as risking large amounts of money needs to be done so with a great deal of caution.

Be sure to think very carefully when considering the purchase of a Forex Robot, recent times have shown they give big profits to the developers and little to the purchaser. No Robot is 100% accurate as they work by predicting the trends based on previous results, so be aware that the market can still fluctuate greatly and the bot will make decisions on your behalf.

Try to learn all there is to know about the market. Be sure to have a good depth of understanding about interest rates and trade imbalances along with fiscal and monetary policies to help protect your investments.  Learning to invest wisely is the key to success, sticking with just one strategy is therefore likely to be the safest approach.

Also, in the early days of your trading, try not to enter into too many different markets and be sure to avoid the ‘thin markets’ that don’t draw in much public interest. Begin by sticking with the most popular currency pairs and only stick to a handful of different markets at any one time. Always make moves with a clear head and definitely don’t rush after a loss as you are bound to make more mistakes.  The Forex market is mostly made up of large International Banks and Insurance Companies who succeed by keeping up to date with all new strategies and developments, helping to guarantee their success. So start with an Extensive Foreign Exchange Platform which will help you by sending current alerts to your mobile phone, aim to trade hourly in the beginning and see how it works for you