Pound gains on euro after mixed activity data, tumbles on yen
By Alun John
LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) -Sterling gained on the euro on Wednesday after a survey showed British business activity this month was stronger than in euro zone economies, while it held steady on the dollar and tumbled against a rebounding Japanese yen.
The euro was last down 0.1% on the pound at 84.04 pence EURGBP=D3 not far from its two year low of 83.84 pence hit earlier in July.
British business activity picked up this month, bolstered by the fastest manufacturing growth in two years and the strongest inflow of new orders since April 2023, PMI survey data showed Wednesday. In contrast, growth in euro zone business activity stalled.
"The divergence in economic fortunes is being reflected by currency markets so far this morning," said Nick Rees, FX Market analyst at Monex Europe.
The pound has been supported in recent months by better-than expected economic data, some stability from a new government, and also the Bank of England being slower to cut rates than some peers, including the European Central Bank, due to fears about sticky services inflation.
The BoE next meets in August, and markets see around a 45% chance of them cutting rates. Rees said Wednesday's data would do little to push the BoE towards or away from an August cut as it showed a mixed picture regarding the pass through from wages to inflation.
The pound was flat on the dollar at $1.29075. GBP=D3
Sterling's most dramatic move was against the Japanese yen, tumbling 0.55% to 199.67 yen, having been above 207 earlier this month. GBPJPY=
The yen has been strengthening broadly after likely official intervention to prop it up earlier in July, a rise in volatility causing traders to unwind yen-funded 'carry trades' that have hurt the currency, and a possibility of a rate increase from the Bank of Japan next week.
It could go further, and Nomura strategists, on Wednesday recommended a short GBP/JPY trade to clients, targeting 190.50 per pound by end-September.
Behind the idea, they said were: softening UK data, an under priced August BoE rate cut and BOJ July rate hike, shaky broad risk appetite and stretched long sterling positioning.
Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Graphic: Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv
Reporting by Alun John, Editing by William Maclean
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.