This week sees three major central bank meetings

Currency Global - Market News

STERLING GBP/USD reclaimed 1.32 mid-week, supported by stronger than expected UK data (mortgage approvals and CBI) and Prime Minister May’s decision to take control of Brexit negotiations. However, losses followed on Thursday after EU Brexit Minister Michel Barnier rejected a key aspect of the UK’s customs plan. Investors are now eyeing Thursday’s Bank of England…

Read More

Brussels rejects UK’s Brexit proposal

  STERLING After the EU rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Chequers plan for Brexit last week, May is being urged to look further afield and create world trade deals that could boost the UK economy by £80billion a year. Further, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has stated that if the EU do not agree to a…

Read More

Trump vows ‘great’ post brexit trade deal with UK

Currency Global - Market News

STERLING Justine Greening, the former education secretary, has said the idea of a second referendum on Brexit would be supported by senior Tory MP’s. According to Greening, Prime Minister May’s Brexit whitepaper ‘’suits no one’’ and would be rejected by both remainers and leavers. Brexit and the accompanying political uncertainty weighed on the pound last…

Read More

Sterling rallies after David Davis resigns as Brexit Minister

Hong Kong

STERLING UK’s Brexit minister David Davis resigned over the weekend and Davis’ move spurred other hard-liners within the UK’s Brexit branch to resign as well, although it has not weighed much with GBP/USD advancing above 1.33 this morning. Theresa May’s latest proposal for a soft Brexit is expected to face heavy challenges from Tory conservatives…

Read More

Hard Brexit or sacrifice UK sovereignty?

STERLING Sterling finished last week on the front foot, rallying on Friday after UK Q1 GDP was revised slightly higher. GBP/USD had touched its lowest level since November last week but bounced back above 1.32 on Friday, although it has retreated to around 1.3150 this morning. Brexit concerns are rearing their heads again after weekend…

Read More

Bank of England signals August interest rate rise

  Sterling Sterling rallied higher on Thursday after the Bank of England switched their interest rate votes to 6-3. GBP/USD hit year-to-date lows on Thursday but bounced on the BoE decision. Brexit related uncertainty had also provided a weight, but this dissipated as Prime Minister Theresa May avoided a rebellion midweek. On the event calendar…

Read More

Bank of England to hold interest rates

Tower Bridge Large

STERLING The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee meets on Thursday where they are widely expected to leave the Bank Rate on hold at 0.50%, albeit via a 7-2 vote (most economists have pencilled in the next hike for August). Recent data releases have been somewhat mixed although investor focus was distracted last week by…

Read More

UK manufacturing data boosts Sterling

Trafalgar Square. Currency Global Market News

STERLING Sterling found some modest support last week with GBP/USD managing to log a weekly gain after six weeks of declines. UK manufacturing PMI surpassed expectations and investors will be hoping for similar outcomes for services tomorrow. Industrial and manufacturing production follow on Friday. EURO The Euro was at the mercy of political developments last…

Read More

Euro slides against Sterling

London

STERLING Sterling got off to a slow start to the trading week with most UK markets closed yesterday and little Brexit related activity over the weekend. Recent Bank of England rhetoric has also been relatively uneventful with Carney sticking to his view last week that the first-quarter slowdown was temporary. Investors will be on the…

Read More