GBP 

So
the week began with the pound continuing its recent impressive run by trading
to its highest level against the US dollar since August 2011 and against the
euro since January this year. 

GBP 

So
the week began with the pound continuing its recent impressive run by trading
to its highest level against the US dollar since August 2011 and against the
euro since January this year. 

Data
from Hometrack initially supported the move, with the results showing that
British house prices increased in all regions of the UK in November for the
first time in 6 years. 

This
data was followed up by PMI manufacturing coming in higher than initial
estimates to its highest since February 2011. A breakdown of the figures showed
that new manufacturing orders increased to the highest in 20 years and
employment in sector rose at its fastest pace since May 2011. 

The
data continues to add to the impressive figures we have had of late from the UK
with markets continued to flirt with the idea that the Bank of England will
raise interest rates sooner than expected. 

USD 

The
US dollar managed to claw back its early morning losses against the pound and
gained against the euro by the afternoon following a string of better than
expected data. 

Manufacturing
PMI from both Markit and ISM showed that the sector expanded beyond
expectations in November with the ISM index rising to its highest level since
April 2011 and the Markit index rising to a 10 month high. A breakdown of the
figures shows a significant rise in production, new orders and levels of
employment suggesting that the factory sector has gained some momentum. 

Construction
spending in October also increased by 0.8% adding to further US dollar support. 

EUR 

Despite
data showing that manufacturing PMI in November expanded at its fastest pace in
more than two years, the single bloc currency lost out to both the pound and
the US dollar. It would appear that the positive data from the other two
economies overruled these figures thus causing the euro to lose out. 

AUD 

The
Reserve Bank of Australia decided to hold interest rates at 2.5%. RBA Governor
Glenn Stevens confirmed that current monetary policy remains appropriate but
also stressed that the Australian dollar still remains uncomfortably strong.
Retails sales for November beat expectations to increase by 0.5% but slowed from
October. 

As
a result the dollar declined by almost one cent against the pound in overnight trade. 

Today 

The
UK construction sector will come into focus this morning. Whilst the sector is forecasted
to have expanded for the seventh month in a row in November, the expansion is
set to have slowed from October. But nonetheless the pound is continuing to be
supported in early trade this morning and we could see another attempt for the
pound to breach a two high against the US dollar. 

Key Announcements:

9.30am
– GBP – PMI Construction (Nov): Expected to have slowed to 59. 

10.00am
– EUR – Producer Price Index (Oct): Expected to fall further to -1%.