Euro holds losses against British Pound despite stronger Germany’s Industrial Production data
- EUR/GBP softens to around 0.8640 in Tuesday’s early European session.
- Germany’s industrial sector activity rebounds in April, with Industrial Production rising 0.4% MoM.
- Traders await the ECB interest rate decision later on Thursday.
The EUR/GBP cross holds negative ground near 0.8640 during the early European trading hours on Tuesday. The Euro (EUR) remains weak against the British Pound (GBP) despite the stronger German Industrial Production. European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde is set to speak later in the day.
Data released by Destatis on Tuesday showed that Germany’s Industrial Production rose 0.4% MoM in April, compared to a decline of 0.1% in March. This figure came in line with the market expectations. Annually, German Industrial Production arrived at -0.5% in the same period, following March’s revised a 3.4% decrease.
The rebound in Germany’s Industrial Production data fails to boost the Euro. The attention will shift to the ECB interest rate decision later on Thursday. “At its 11 June meeting, the ECB is very likely to raise its key interest rates by 25 basis points, in line with its recent hawkish communication,” said Martin Wolburg, senior economist at Generali Investments.
On the UK’s front, financial markets had expected the Bank of England (BoE) to cut interest rates twice this year to 3.25%. Since the US-Iran war began, the situation has reversed, and now a rise of 25 basis points (bpd) before December is forecast, according to CNBC.
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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