17/11/2022 The UK awaits Chancellor Hunt’s Autumn Statement USD Yesterday saw the release of Retail Sales in the US and the Department of Commerce (DoC) reported that sales grew the most in eight months, with readings hitting 1.3% month-on-month against the projected 1%. Retail Sales in the control group, used to calculate GDP, expanded by 0.7% month-on-month against 0.3% foreseen. Although inflation data … Read more
16/11/2022 UK inflation data beats market expectations rising to 11.1% USD The dollar fell during early trading as PPI inflation came in lower than expected. The PPI figure came in at 0.2%, lower than the 0.4% the market had forecast. The Producer Price Index measures the inflation facing domestic producers of goods and services and is therefore considered to be another measure for consumer-facing inflation (CPI). … Read more
14/11/2022 Sterling gained for the second consecutive day against USD GBP The pound gained for the second consecutive day against the US dollar on Friday to hit fresh two-week highs and this resulted in the largest single day rise in the pair since 2017. UK GDP has shown a 0.2% contraction in the third quarter, significantly above the -0.5% market consensus following a 0.2% advance … Read more
11/11/2022 US CPI data signals a slowdown in interest rates hikes USD The dollar fell sharply on Thursday after US inflation data came in softer than expected and suggested underlying inflation had peaked. The CPI reading for October signals to the market that the Federal Reserve could look to slow the pace of its interest rate hikes. The slowing Consumer Price Index sparked big gains in major foreign … Read more
09/11/2022 USD weakness due to slowdown in labour market GBP This week has seen Sterling gain and lost ground against the US dollar after strong US jobs data release. Yet higher unemployment data rising 0.2% indicated a slowdown in the US labour market, resulting in dollar weakness. Yesterday saw the EU year-on-year Retail Sales data reported at -0.6%, which was lower than the expected contraction … Read more
04/11/2022 UK interest rates reach 3%, the largest increase in 33 years GBP Sterling fell against its peers on Thursday despite its largest single interest rate increase for thirty-three years, as the Bank of England warned of a deeper recession than previously thought and cautioned markets that it would unlikely raise interest rates to 5%. The BoE increased interest rates by 75 basis points to 3%, an increase … Read more
03/11/2022 US interest rates reach 4% USD The dollar firmed on Wednesday evening following the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision, which saw US interest rates increased to their highest level since 2008. As widely expected, the Fed voted unanimously to increase interest rates by 75 basis points for the fourth consecutive meeting lifting the US interest rate to a range … Read more
27/10/2022 The ECB’s interest rates decision expected today GBP Following the appointment of the UK’s new Prime Minister, Sterling has found much needed stability in recent days and returned to pre mini-budget levels. There are still many issues that need to be addressed, the main one being the government’s plans to plug the current £35bn debt hole. Yesterday, current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and PM Rishi … Read more
26/10/2022 Fears of a EU recession are easing after gas prices fall GBP Sterling gained back some of its losses yesterday mainly against the US dollar as Rishi Sunak was officially announced as Prime Minister. Sunak is the UK’s third PM in just two months. Markets will be hoping that Sunak offers a steady hand as Britain faces mounting economic problems. In his first speech as Prime … Read more
25/10/2022 New Prime Minister brings confidence to the markets GBP Yesterday the market took time to digest the news that the UK will have its third Prime Minister for the year with former Chancellor Rishi Sunak winning the race to become the next PM after Boris Johnson pulled out of the race and Penny Mordaunt also conceded. This saw the pound gain against the … Read more
18/10/2022 The pound rallied more than 2% against the US dollar GBP Yesterday the pound rallied more than 2% against the US dollar, bolstered by risk-on mood and news that the UK government will abandon most of the economic plans put forward a few weeks ago which sent markets into turmoil and prompted the Bank of England to action an emergency intervention. Jeremy Hunt, who was appointed as … Read more
17/10/2022 Markets expect an aggressive decision from the BoE next month GBP The Bank of England introduced an emergency bond-buying scheme which saw over £8bn in purchased bonds coming to an end last Friday. The purpose of the scheme was to settle markets after the government’s release of its ‘mini budget’ that recently saw a dramatic market sell off causing GBP/USD tanking to a record low of 1.03 and … Read more
14/10/2022 Markets are now pricing in a full U-turn on UK corporation tax GBP Sterling found some much needed relief against a basket of currencies on Thursday following reports the UK government were set to reverse some aspects of its contentious mini-budget. According to numerous news outlets, the government were considering which parts of the tax cutting package which sent financial markets into turmoil last week can be ignored. … Read more
12/10/2022 The Bank of England reiterates the end of its emergency support program GBP Yesterday the pound plunged against the US dollar after further concerns were raised by the IMF regarding the UK government’s mini budget. The Bank of England announced early on Tuesday that it will enact a further round of bond-buying to try settling the market. Investors have been selling off government bonds as they are worried about … Read more
06/10/2022 Prime Minister fails to re-assure markets with conference speech GBP Sterling ended a recent run of appreciation on Wednesday declining 2% against the US dollar and 0.5% against the euro as Prime Minister Liz Truss delivered her speech at the annual Conservative party conference in Birmingham. Investors had hoped that Truss would use the conference as an opportunity to re-assure markets of the government’s fiscal … Read more
04/10/2022 Government U-turn on tax helps Sterling recovery GBP The pound recovered yesterday after the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed he would bring forward the publication of his fiscal plan to try to restore confidence in the market. The plan had originally been scheduled for release on the 23rd of November, but will now be delivered later this month. The Treasury’s plan will also be accompanied by … Read more
30/09/2022 The Bank of England to reduce gilt holding by £80bn GBP Sterling reversed some of its recent losses against both the euro and US dollar on Thursday rallying by 1% following the Bank of England’s recent intervention in the bond market. According to the BoE, the central bank will keep its goal to reduce its £838bn of gilt holding by £80bn over the next year, … Read more
29/09/2022 Bank of England to purchase £65bn worth of government debts GBP The pound rose against both the euro and US dollar after the Bank of England announced that it would start buying long-dated bonds, on a temporary basis, in order to calm the market chaos. However near-term volatility is expected to remain elevated. The move was made by the BoE after all the distribution caused … Read more
28/09/2022 No immediate intervention from the Bank of England regarding interest rates GBP The British pound remains under pressure against both the euro and the US dollar and wasn’t helped after the Bank of England (BoE) released a statement that they are not looking to intervene as of yet. Sterling has been strained since Friday after Chancellor Kwarteng announced the government’s plans for tax cuts and deregulation. He made … Read more
27/09/2022 Markets eager for an aggressive monetary approach from the BoE GBP Yesterday saw a sharp decline for Sterling against the euro and US dollar following last week’s monetary policy decision and mini budget. The market was hoping for a minimum of 75 basis points interest rates hike from the Bank of England. However, the central bank disappointed with hiking rates by only 50 basis points, falling behind … Read more
