07:58 AM EDT, 03/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The US dollar fell against its major trading partners early Monday, except for a small gain against the pound, as markets prepare for a busy schedule of key economic data releases this week during the absence of appearances by Federal Reserve officials.

The week starts off light Monday, with only state unemployment data for January at 10:00 am ET and the New York Fed's inflation expectations reading at 11:00 am ET.

Tuesday's data schedule includes small business optimism, consumer prices, and weekly Redbook same store sales. Wednesday's highlights include weekly mortgage applications and oil stocks.

Thursday's busy schedule includes weekly jobless claims, retail sales, producer prices and business inventories. Import prices, regional manufacturing conditions, industrial production and the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment reading will be published Friday.

The 'quiet period' for Fed officials continues until after the March 19-20 Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

A quick summary of foreign exchange activity heading into Monday:

EUR-USD rose slightly to 1.0940 from 1.0939 at the Friday US close and 1.0930 at the same time Friday morning. There is no Eurozone data on Monday's calendar. The next European Central Bank meeting is scheduled for April 11.

GBP-USD fell to 1.2846 from 1.2857 at the Friday US close but was above a level of 1.2828 at the same time Friday morning. There are no UK data on Monday's schedule, but Bank of England policy board member Catherine Mann is set to speak at 1:00 pm ET. The next BoE meeting is scheduled for March 21.

USD-JPY fell to 146.6842 from 147.0603 at the Friday US close and 147.1512 at the same time Friday morning. Japanese economic growth rebounded to a small gain in Q4 after the economy contracted in the previous quarter, data released overnight showed. The next Bank of Japan meeting is set for March 18-19.

USD-CAD fell to 1.3480 from 1.3482 at the Friday US close but was up from a level of 1.3455 at the same time Friday morning. There are no Canadian data on Monday's schedule. The next Bank of Canada monetary policy meeting is scheduled for April 10.