Sterling Slides
admin | August 21, 2009The pound remains weak this morning as markets digest news of a record budget deficit in the UK. The euro continues to rally following positive PMIs for the manufacturing and service sectors and the Canadian dollar was boosted yesterday by a recommendation to buy from Goldman Sachs.
Pound Sterling – UK Markets
Sterling foreign exchange rates have declined this morning as markets digest the record budget deficit announced yesterday. The pound has declined against its major currency partners, with the exception of the Australian and New Zealand currencies.
New that the UK is running a record budget deficit kept sterling under pressure yesterday, with the pound remaining in low ranges against the euro and US dollar. Rising government debt may have contributed to the MPC decision to increase QE levels by another GBP50 billion and rising retail sales did little to boost investor sentiment. There is no major data in the UK today.
US Dollar – US Markets
US dollar foreign exchange rates received a boost yesterday after negative jobless figures triggered a spike in risk aversion. This morning the US dollar is trading at 0.69 against the euro and 0.60 against the pound.
New jobless claims rose by 576,000 in the week to August 15, more than markets expected which led to a bout of risk aversion yesterday. US dollar gains were trimmed however by the Philadelphia Fed which showed manufacturing in the region expanded for the first time in over a year. This is an important snapshot of the region as a whole. US existing home sales are out this afternoon.
Euro – European Markets
Foreign exchange rates for the euro remain strong this morning, climbing against its major currency partners with the exception of the yen and Swiss franc. The euro is currently valued at 1.42 against the US dollar and 0.86 against the pound.
German PMIs for both manufacturing and services have shown positive results this morning, coming in at 49 and 54 respectively. This is in line with positive German data released earlier in the week, indicating that the eurozone’s largest economy is on the way to economic recovery. PMI’s for the eurozone are slightly worse, coming in just under the 50 mark. There is no further data in the eurozone today.
Other Currencies – Highlights
Foreign exchange rates for the Australian dollar gained nearly a cent against the pound yesterday, after the UK budget deficit came in at a record figure. News that the Philadelphia Fed has expanded helped raise foreign exchange rates for the Aussie and Kiwi currencies, through boosting international risk appetite.
The Canadian dollar has also received a boost after wholesale sales rose 0.6% in June, the first increase in 9 months. Goldman Sachs also recommended buying Canadian dollars against the US in the short term which sent the CAD to a weekly high against the greenback.
