Huge exchange rate volatility GBPEUR, GBPNZD, GBPAUD, GBPUSD

Monday 24th August 2015 
It’s incredibly volatile on the currency markets today. Just look at what has happened with Sterling/Euro rates, falling from 1.38 into 1.34's:
  

 
When I opened the trading floor this morning at 8am, GBP/EUR was at 1.38 where it ended on Friday. We have seen the rate drop throughout the day, and at 2.15pm it plummeted to as low as 1.3455 before recovering back into the €1.35’s. This is a huge drop and other currency pairs are seeing extreme volatility, due to global stock rout and economic uncertainty. 

The FTSE 100 has lost 10%, as investors dumped riskier assets and flocked to currencies seen as safe havens on fears about a slowdown in the Chinese and global economies. The Euro has been a huge benefactor, as usual safe havens like Sterling and the US Dollar are suffering. This is because the global slowdown means interest rates are no longer likely to go up in the UK or US any time soon. 

As the Euro gains significant strength, commodity based currencies like the Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar and Canadian Dollar continue to weaken as oil prices and other commodities continue to fall in value. 

Click here to view live charts for all currency pairs.

Sterling/Dollar has gone from $1.56 to $1.58 just today, as the Dollar weakens due to the global turmoil. Just look at some of the movements we've seen during trading today:

GBP/USD rises to $1.58:

GBP/NZD has risen by 10 cents in the last half an hour:

 

GBP/AUD rises from $2.16 to $2.22:

 

A panicked and interesting day on the currency markets. 

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Greece defers debt payment, but Pound/Euro rates fail to recover

Monday 8th June 2015

Greece defers debt payment, but Pound/Euro rates fail to recover

On Friday, it was announced that Greece will defer the payment that was due, and lump it together with a series of other payments due into on single payment of €1.5bn at the end of the month. So given they didn’t make the payment, why didn’t the Euro weaken and GBP/EUR rates rise? 

The news was actually a non-event, and had been widely expected. In fact, the markets seem to think that the delay gives all parties additional negotiating time which could lead to a formal agreement to conclude the bailout. 

The Pound/Euro rate this morning has already fallen nearly a cent, due to the CBI cutting UK growth forecasts, weakening the Pound.

Other EU data in the last few days has been strong, which is stopping the Euro getting any weaker. If the Greeks can indeed come to a conclusion over their debts by the end of this month, expect GBP/EUR rates to fall further. 

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US Jobs data causes GBP/USD rates to fall 

On Friday we saw the latest US Non-Farm Payrolls, which is a measure of new jobs created excluding the agricultural sector (because that’s seasonal). The number was 50,000 more than expected, which is a very robust result for the US. As such, the US Dollar gained strength and pulled GBP/USD rates lower. 

What could affect exchange rates this week? 

Below I’ve listed the main scheduled releases that I think could affect exchange rates. Of course ongoing developments in Greece, and the current G7 meeting could also affect things at any time. For a more in depth discussion about what could affect the exchange rate you’re looking at, feel free to get in touch with me. 

Monday 8th June 2015 – Today is relatively quiet, with some Industrial Production data and Trade Balance numbers from Germany, which had little effect on exchange rates. Later today we have Retail Sales numbers from the UK that are a good barometer of overall UK economic activity. If good, Sterling may gain. 

Tuesday 9th June 2015 – IN the UK today we have an inflation report. Depending what it contains, it could cause speculation on when UK interest rates may rise, and so could affect the Pound. We also have EU Gross Domestic Product. I’m expecting a quarterly reading of +0.4%. If the actual number is higher than this then GBP/EUR rates could fall. 

Wednesday 10th June 2015 – Today is a very important one for the UK. We have: Manufacturing Production, Industrial Production, RICS House Prices and the latest GDP estimate from the NIESR. All of these releases give a good idea how the UK economy is faring, and so simply put, better than expected numbers would strengthen the Pound and vice versa. Further afield, New Zealand has its latest Interest Rate decision and policy press conference, so GBP/NZD could also be affected. 

Thursday 11th June 2015 – Today Australian releases lots of Unemployment numbers along with House prices, so those watching the GBP/AUD rate should watch for today. Over in the United States we have Jobless Claims, and the latest measure of US Retail Sales. If these numbers continue to show an improvement in the US Economy, expect GBP/USD rates to fall. 

Friday 12th June 2015 – A very quiet end to the week, with the only data of note Germany wholesale Prices and US inflation data. 

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Pound/Euro rates drop to €1.39

Tuesday 17th March 2015
The spike of last week to €1.4255 appears to have been short lived, with the Pound falling during trading on both Monday and Tuesday, testing the €1.40 level before breaking below it. The drop continued today and at the time of writing the rate is a little above €1.39: 

 

Why has the rate fallen? 

It’s to do with events in Europe, the USA and the UK. Over in the EU the recent QE programme has been well accepted, and this shows confidence that the Eurozone will sort out their issues and return to growth. This view was supported with economic data released this morning, showing better than expected numbers for consumer sentiment, inflation, and employment. The better numbers have given the Euro back some strength, dragging down the GBP/EUR rate. 

Over in the USA, there are nerves ahead the FED’s meeting tomorrow, halting the Dollar buying and in turn Euro selling. The Dollar has weakened a little after weaker than forecast manufacturing, industrial output and housing data. 

Here in the UK, its Budget day tomorrow, and the Conservatives last chance to convince voters they are the only choice to protect the UK economy. Tomorrow is going to be a very important one for the currency markets, so let’s take a closer look at what’s on the agenda. 

Wednesday a very important day for exchange rates 

Tomorrow we will see much that could affect exchange rates. In the UK at 09:30am we have the latest Bank of England announcement, various unemployment numbers. Both of these could affect the Pound significantly better than expected figures could strengthen the Pound and vice versa. 

Later on we have the UK Budget Statement which is of more importance than usual, given there is a UK general election in less than 2 months. There could well be some surprises in this budget to woo voters ahead of the election, and given the economy is going to be the main weapon in the Conservatives arsenal, there is every chance we could see a significant effect on exchange rates for Sterling. 

Over in the United States at 6pm we have the Federal Reserve’s monthly statement. The markets are nervous ahead of this as analysts try to determine when the FED will raise interest rates. This is very important for exchange rates, as flows in and out of the Dollar can have knock on effects for the Pound, the Euro, and other major currencies. 

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Pound/Euro €1.42, Pound/Dollar below $1.50

Wednesday 11th March 2015 
I read today that a pretend €100.00 euro note from a toy shop was accepted by a business in a County Down town in Ireland to purchase a sandwich. In the real world, it almost seems that an actual €100 Euro note isn’t worth much more, given the pounding the single currency has taken in the last few days! 

Since Monday alone, the weakness in the single currency has meant that the Sterling/Euro rate has risen from €1.39 hitting a high of €1.4255 before dropping back away:

Even today we’ve seen a rise from 1.4075 to 1.4250, before levelling back off to where we are now in the low €1.41’s. What an incredibly volatile few days. We are now seeing a new 7 year high on GBP/EUR, and in 2015 alone we’ve seen the exchange rate rise from €1.27 to the current highs above €1.40. To put this into real terms, a €300,000 property abroad is £25,000 cheaper than in January. 

Why has the Pound/Euro rate risen above €1.40? 

The fact the rate has smashed through the 1.40 mark and sustained itself above that level has surprised both me and the markets in general. Usually a technical level like that would act as a barrier. Most analysts agree that it’s due to renewed fears over the Greek position in the Eurozone, and this coupled with the launch of quantitative easing by the European Central Bank (ECB) continued to put downward pressure on the single currency. 

The weakening effect of the ECB’s bond buying programme seems to be more than offsetting the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming general election. Against the US Dollar, the Euro is now languishing at a 12 year low!

Which way will Pound/Euro rates move now? 

As I’ve said above it’s a surprise that rates broke through €1.40, however now they have it’s likely to stay above that level as it will be acting as a level of support. I now think that while the general election could still weaken the Pound, the risks of this are now offset by Euro zone uncertainty. 

Some forecasts I’ve read suggest €1.45+ later this year, but of course exchange rates depend on market sentiment, and this in turn will be driven by ongoing events in Europe. If you need to buy or sell Euros, don’t just watch the rate hoping things will go your way. I can help you achieve much better rates than the bank, and also have various tools to help you avoid unnecessary drops in the rate, such as Stop Loss orders, Limit Orders and Forward contracts. If you have Euros to buy or sell, then click here to send me a free no obligation enquiry today to get a quote, and find out how I can help. 

Pound/Dollar rates drop below $1.50 

In stark contrast to GBP/EUR rates, the Pound/Dollar rate has tumbled below $1.50 today. This is partly due to the Euro sell off. Investors dumping the Euro have been buying the US Dollar, which has given the greenback some strength. 

Will it keep dropping? I think so. The US economy is performing very well, and they are likely to raise interest rates this year. This will strengthen the currency, and while Europe suffers, the Dollar will continue to benefit. So I think we’ll see GBP/USD down in the low $1.40’s this year.  

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GBP/EUR drops, GBP/AUD rises, GBP/USD rises - exchange rates 2015

Tuesday 3rd February 2015

GBP/EUR falls into the €1.31’s 

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that the Sterling/Euro rate could be on the way down, and it’s happening quicker than expected. Today we have seen the rate fall a further cent bringing the mid-market level down into the €1.31’s. So, why has the Pound/Euro rate fallen? 

It’s to do with Greece. One of the reasons the rate has risen so well was fears the Greeks could exit the Euro after their recent election was won by the new Greek government, led by the left-wing Syriza party. Today, it seems they have now stopped calling for their debts to be written off, and instead are now proposing the standoff with its official creditors by swapping the debt for new growth-linked bonds. This has been taken as positive news for the Eurozone, and accordingly the Euro has gained strength, pulling rates lower. 

It is impossible to predict of course if the drop will continue, but if the ECB’s Quantitative Easing measures have the desired effect, we could see more Euro strength. Also consider that it’s now forecast that UK interest rates won’t go up until August 2016, so it’s hard to see where any Sterling strength will materialise from. 

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GBP/AUD rises to highest in over 5 years 

The RBA last night surprised the markets and cut the Australian interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point. This weakened the Australian Dollar, pushing rates to nearly $1.97 before selling back around the $1.95/$1.96 mark. This is now the best buying level in 5 and a half years, and you can see from the chart below the immediate spike when the announcement was made. 

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GBP/USD rises to $1.51 

This currency pair had recently been testing the $1.50 support level, but a host of poor economic data from the states today has weakened the Dollar, pushing rates a cent higher to $1.51. However as the US are likely to be the first western economy to raise interest rates, we could well still see the rate drop into the $1.40’s. 

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Pound continues to fall against Euro and US Dollar

Tuesday 6th January 2015 
Sterling initially had a good start to 2015 against the Euro, hitting highs of over €1.29 on Friday. As has been the case of late however, when it tested these highs it quickly dropped back away again. Against the US Dollar, the Pound has fallen to its lowest in well over a year. Let’s take a more detailed look at what’s been happening. 

Sterling/Euro 

The Euro is fundamentally weak at the moment, and this is reflected in its value. Over the New Year, comments from the European Central Bank president Mario Draghi indicate they are getting closer to a Quantitative Easing stimulus programme. This weakened the single currency and made it cheaper to buy. There are also the Greek elections later this month, with a strong chance the anti EU party could win. This also raises questions about a possible Greek exit from the Eurozone, and this is also keeping the Euro on the back foot, pushing GBP/EUR rates to above €1.29 last week: 

  
The gains were short lived as is often the case. With the New Year, came concerns over the Pound, and Sterling has weakened in the first few days trading. Much of this is probably due to the political uncertainty the upcoming election will generate, with the result quite open at the moment. This coupled with the fact that UK interest rates aren’t likely to rise for at least 6 months mean the Pound could be facing further pressure in the coming weeks. 


Longer term, I expect Pound/Euro to break the €1.30 barrier, probably in the latter part of this year. In the shorter to medium term however, those that need to buy or sell Euros should weigh up their options now, as a small movement in the wrong direction could cost you a significant sum. If you need to buy or sell Euros in the next 3 to 6 months, contact me today to find out what could happen, what your options are, and obtain a quote on the rates that I can offer you. 

Sterling/Dollar 

The downward trend for cable continues. The rate fell to $1.53 yesterday, and today has fallen below the $1.52 mark which is the lowest it’s been since August 2013. The main reason for this is Dollar strength, caused by uncertainty in the global oil markets, unrest in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a robust US economy that is going from strength to strength. The drop could continue, but I think the rate will struggle to drop below the $1.50 mark as this is a key technical level. 

If you need to buy or sell Dollars, would like a quote or would simply like to chat about which way the exchange rate is moving, click here for a free consultation. 

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Oil Prices and Central Banks affect exchange rates

Tuesday 16th December 2014 
It’s been a pretty choppy day in the currency markets, with news from Central Banks and oil prices causing quite a bit of exchange rate volatility. Today I’ll look at what has been happening with some of the main currency pairs. If you need to buy or sell any major international currency, I can source exchange rates up to 4% better than banks can offer. Contact me today to find out how I can help.

Sterling/Euro 

Pound/Euro rates seem to have been sliding lower over the last few months, and currently stuck between €1.25 and €1.26 which is several cents below the 6 year high of €1.29 we saw in the summer. It’s about the Bank of England and interest rates. In the summer analysts expected a rate hike before the end of the year, and this had caused the Pound to rise in value. It now looks like a rate hike is now some way off, and this has caused the Pound to drop off. 

Today we saw inflation fall even lower, down to a 12 year low caused by lower fuel prices. This could also slow the UK's economy which may cause Sterling to fall further in the short term. The Bank of England, which targets an inflation rate of 2%, warned last month that the rate could drop below 1% in the next six months, and this poor outlook means that the Bank is unlikely to raise interest rates from the historic low of 0.5% for some time. 

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Sterling/US Dollar & Canadian Dollar 

In the last 6 months GBP/USD has dropped from $1.72 down to around $1.56/$1.57. Part of this is due to the weakening of the Pound, but also the US Dollar has been gaining strength recently as their economy continues to impress. It’s likely the US central bank will raise interest rates before the UK, and that’s likely to keep the rate in check. 

Another reason is the low oil prices. The US imports lots of oil so when the price drops, the USD generally gets stronger and more expensive to buy. The opposite is true of the Canadian Dollar – GBPCAD rates have gone up by 4% in the last month, as the Canadian Dollar has weakened due to the low oil prices. They export lots of oil so their currency has weakened. 

If you need to buy or sell USD or CAD, click here for a quote or simply to have a chat about what’s moving the exchange rate. 

Sterling/Australian Dollar 

We are currently seeing very good rates to buy the AUD. The current rate is the highest it’s been all year. This is down to a very weak Aussie Dollar. Australia’s main export is Iron ore, which is at a very low price. China buys most of it, and their factory and manufacturing sectors are slowing, meaning less demand for these raw materials. This has caused the AUD to weaken and become cheaper to buy. Due to the slowdown in the Australian economy, they may have to cut interest rates next year and that is also pushing the GBP/AUD rate higher. 

If you need to buy Australian Dollars, click here for a quote or simply to have a chat about what’s moving the exchange rate. 

Russian Rouble 

We don’t trade the Russian Rouble, but it’s certainly worth a mention. The Rouble has lost about half of its value this year, and today alone has fallen another 10%. Russia’s central bank last month raised interest rates by 1% to 10.5%. Last night, they hiked the rate to 17% in an effort to stave off the fall in value of the currency. While we don’t trade this currency, I’m mentioning it as it demonstrates how central banks try to use interest rates to alter the value of a currency. On this occasion it hasn’t worked, and fears of fresh sanctions could drag the rouble lower, although it’s mainly due to oil prices. 50% of their GDP comes from oil, so the 5 year low in prices is reflected in their currency. 

Getting the best exchange rates 

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Pound up, Euro weakens, Dollar strengthens - forecast 2014

Tuesday 26th August 2014 
Good morning and welcome back after the long weekend we enjoyed in the UK, despite the dismal weather! The Pound/Euro rate however is anything but dismal, having recovered today when UK markets opened. This is more to do with weakness in the Euro that I shall explain in a moment, in addition to looking at why Pound/Dollar rates dropped. I will also outline what data released we’re looking at this week that could affect exchange rates. 

Sterling/Euro rates up, but not due to the Pound 

Over the weekend there was a meeting with the US and EU central bank chiefs in the United States. There were some interesting comments from the European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi that has caused the Euro to weaken. 

Unlike the UK, Europe is still struggling to grow and they are facing a problem of very low inflation. Usually you would lower interest rates to combat this, but rates in the EU are already at a low of 0.15% so they can’t cut it any further. So what I expect them to do is look at other stimulus measures, much like the Quantitative Easing we saw in the UK. 

His comments over the weekend hinted at this when he said that they would “use also unconventional instruments to safeguard the firm anchoring of inflation expectations over the medium- to long-term.” Adding that they would “use all the available instruments needed to ensure price stability over the medium term.” 

Markets have taken this as the clearest signal yet that they may indeed have to create money to pump money into the economy. If so this would weaken the Euro, and this has started to get priced into the market and the Euro has weakened off, causing the Pound/Euro rate to recover back towards to €1.26 level.

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Pound/Dollar rates drop 

Again this was not due to Sterling, it was due to the US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen being very positive about the US economy, their growth and unemployment levels, and the fact they will continue winding up their stimulus program, all of which points to the USA raising interest rates next year. As a result, the Pound/Dollar rate dropped as the US Dollar became more expensive to buy. 

This week’s data releases 

Tuesday 26th August – today has been quiet in terms of economic data, with only US figures of note. We’ve seen good orders higher than expected compounding the strength of the US Dollar. 

Wednesday 27th August – Yet another quiet day, and while there are some minor releases, there is nothing that I think should affect exchange rates. 

Thursday 28th August - It is quiet again in the UK with nothing of interest other than some consumer confidence figures at midnight. In the EU however, Germany (Europe’s largest economy) has a raft of unemployment and inflation data. Over in the United States we have Gross Domestic Product figures, Jobless Claims and Home sales, all of which could affect GBP/USD rates. 

Friday 29th August – The only UK release is a measure of business investment, but with a lack of other UK data this week it may have a larger effect than normal. Elsewhere we have EU inflation and unemployment, Canadian GDP figures, and income and expenditure figures from the USA. 

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Pound rises on MPC vote, but gains likely to be limited

Wednesday 20th August 2014 
The Pound has recovered slightly this morning after 2 members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to raise interest rates in August, the first time in three years that policymakers have done so. In today’s post I’ll explain why this caused Pound/Euro rates to rise, and why I think any gains will be limited and that Euro buyers should consider fixing rates sooner rather than later. I’ll also give my views on the Pound/Dollar forecast. 

Bank of England Split on interest rates 

This morning’s data showing 2 of the 9 members voted for a rate hike shows division within the BoE. It is the first time there has been a split in over 3 years. (Interest rates have been unchanged since March 2009.) It also suggested an early interest rate rise was desirable as a way of anticipating inflationary pressures from wage rises. 

Despite the split vote, it doesn’t really change all that much because yesterday’s inflation figures showed the Bank remained under no immediate pressure to raise interest rates. With inflation well below target and wage growth stagnating, any increase in interest rates at the moment would be premature. It’s for this reason that I think that the GBP/EUR rate will now be settled at around 1.25 or so for the moment and is unlikely we’ll see any more gains. Sterling has actually been in decline of late so this is likely a temporary spike upwards. 

Therefore if you need to buy Euros in the next 3 to 6 months, consider fixing the rate sooner rather than later while it’s still within a few cents of a 2 year high. You can do this by simply lodging 10% of the total you want to convert, and guarantee today’s rates for up to 2 years. 

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Sterling /US Dollar 

We saw this rate increase too today, but gains were limited and short lived. The current rate sits a little above $1.66. Later this after we have the US version of today’s UK BoE release – the FED minutes. Any indications that they discussed easing policy or raising rates would cause the USD to strengthen and become more expensive to buy. 

Exchange rates to buy Dollars were at a 5 year high recently, but has since dropped from $1.72 to $1.66. I personally expect this currency pair to keep dropping as the US economy recovers. Rates closer to $1.60 are likely in 2015. 

Other data this week that might affect exchange rates. 

The remaining data this week is thin on the ground. We have UK Retail Sales tomorrow morning which are a good indicator of economic activity. I expect a rise of 0.4% and as usual if the number is lower than this, Sterling will likely drop in value. 

We have US Jobless numbers tomorrow, along with some EU inflation numbers. Friday is very quiet, and markets are closed on Monday for Bank Holiday. 

What does this mean for your currency requirement? 

The currency markets are very volatile, and when converting large sums even a small movement in the rate can end up costing you thousands. The service I provide is twofold. Firstly you can have a free no obligation chat with me about the exchange rate, and I can explain what is moving the rate and discuss which way it could move in the future. In this way you can make an informed choice on when to fix your exchange rate. 

When the time comes to fix a rate, I can provide commercial exchange rates that are significantly better than banks offer, by as much as 5%. This means that I can save you thousands of Pounds when converting one currency to another. 

If you need to convert funds and would like to discuss what is happening with rates, and obtain a quote to compare with your bank to see how much you can save, click below to send me a free no obligation enquiry today. It is free to make an enquiry and does not obligate you in any way. 

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GBP/EUR 2 year high / GBP/USD 6 year high - Best exchange rates

Wednesday 2nd July 2014 
The Pound has surged higher this morning, after data showing UK House prices have seen their highest rise in over 10 years. This coupled with better than expected construction data has strengthened the Pound to a 2 year high against the Euro (€1.2560) and a 6 year high against the UD Dollar ($1.7170). 

UK House Prices cause Sterling to rise to record levels 

House prices across the UK soared by 11.8 per cent in the last year, the biggest annual rise for almost a decade. Britain's booming housing market shows little sign of cooling, with the average property hitting a new all-time high of £188,903. 

So why has this strengthened the Pound? It’s all to do with interest rates. Last week, the Bank of England moved to put curbs on riskier mortgage lending by announcing that loans of 4.5 times a borrower’s income or higher should account for no more than 15 per cent of new mortgages issued by lenders. 

The Bank also said that lenders should apply a new 'stress test' ensuring that borrowers can keep up their mortgage repayments in the event of a rise of up to 3 per cent in interest rates over the first five years of the loan. 


But is this enough? I’m not so sure. Usually to cool the housing market the Bank of England would raise interest rates. However as inflation and wages aren’t growing at quite the same speed as house prices, this could dampen the economic recovery, so it’s unclear whether the BoE will indeed raise rates. The markets clearly think this is now more likely however, as the Pound has risen to multi-year highs against other currencies. 

Construction is also growing, with this sector showing its strongest growth "for a generation" in the second quarter after a respected survey showed activity continued to surge last month. This also helped push Sterling higher. 

Get the best exchange rates for Euros and Dollars 

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GBP/EUR, GBP/USD, and the weeks economic data

Monday 7th April 2014 
Exchange rates are relatively stable as we start the trading week. In today’s post I’ll have a quick look at where Sterling/Euro and Sterling/Dollar rates stand, and what the forecast is for the short term for whether Pound exchange rates will go up or down. As usual for a Monday, I’ll also list the week’s economic data releases that I think will affect the currency markets. 

Sterling/Euro 

In my post last week I explained that rates had shot up to just over €1.2100 after the ECB announced it discussed conducting a Quantitative Easing programme. Pound/Euro rates remain a little below the €1.21 level today, having dropped a bit through trading after one of the ECB members said that there was no need to take immediate action. 

I’m surprised the Euro didn’t weaken further, but this week we will see several speeches by ECB members. If they shed any more light on the subject and give us an idea how likely a QE programme is, Pound/Euro rates could well pick up further the more likely it seems that they are concerned about the Euro. 

I don’t think there’s much more to see in GBP/EUR getting too much higher however, due to the Bank of England not wanting the Pound to gain much more due to the effect it would have on our exports and in turn, the UK’s economic recovery. 

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Sterling/Dollar 

Looking at other currencies, GBP/USD rates have crept up today steadily throughout the day after jobs numbers from the states disappointed on Friday. This has caused the Dollar to weaken and we’re now back above the $1.66 level. 

These gains could be short lived though – if the ECB members comments this week do weaken the Euro, then an inverse effect of that would be a strengthening US Dollar and lower GBP/USD rates. This is because the USD is a safe haven currency, so worries in the Eurozone would cause investors to move back to the safety of the Dollar, strengthen it and making it cheaper to buy. 

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This week’s economic data releases. 

Monday 7th April 2014 - It’s been fairly quiet on the data front today, with the only noteworthy release being Industrial Production data from Germany, Europe’s largest economy. The numbers were a little better than expected, giving the Euro a little spike and pushing GBP/EUR rates lower, but not by much. 

Tuesday 8th April 2014 - At 09:30am we have the latest UK Industrial and Manufacturing production figures. These can often affect the value of the Pound. We will also see the latest NIESR GDP estimate released at 3pm. The last result showed growth of 0.8%, and if we see a higher number today, Sterling could gain. 

Wednesday 9th April 2014 - Another important UK release today, Trade Balance figures at 09:30am. The market is already expecting a negative number, but if the number is even worse than expected then Sterling could take a hit. Germany also releases its Trade Balance figures today. 

Further afield, the USA will release the minutes of their recent FOMC meeting at 7pm. I think that the US will keep tapering its QE programme this year, and if the minutes support this then expect GBP/USD rates to dip away as the greenback gains strength. 

Thursday 10th April 2014-  The Bank of England announces today if it will change its interest rates and QE programme – I expect rates to be left at 0.5% so don’t think it will affect exchange rates. 

Elsewhere, Australia releases a raft of unemployment data that could affect GBP/AUD rates. The US also have jobless figures, so Dollar rates could also swing today. 

Friday 11th April 2014 - After a very busy week for UK data, we end on a quieter note with nothing of interest from the UK. Germany has some inflation figures, as does the United States, along with a consumer sentiment survey, released at lunchtime. 

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Pound remains above €1.20 vs the Euro

Friday 29th November 2013
Good afternoon everyone. A quick update before the weekend to outline what's been happening with exchange rates, and in particular the Pound/Euro exchange rate forecast.

BoE Governor causes Pound to rise above €1.20

Yesterday the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, gave a speech. You can read a report here on the BBC website that outlines what he talked about. Most of the press has been reporting on the move of the 'Funding for Lending' scheme which has been moved from individuals to small business. 

What we're interested in however is what effect his words had on exchange rates. Mr Carney's predecessor Mervyn King had a habit of 'talking down' the Pound to such an extent that usually as soon as he opened his mouth, Sterling fell before he had actually said anything!

Mr Carney in contrast seems to do exactly the opposite. In recent speeches his comments have been very UK positive and have therefore caused the Pound to rise. This is what we saw yesterday, and the Pound rose to over €1.20 again against the Euro, but this time rates remained just above this level all day on Thursday. 

What's happened today to Sterling exchange rates?

Today, Sterling slipped from a 11-month high against the dollar and fell against the single currency as investors digested the Bank of England's surprise move to scale back stimulus for the housing sector.

Initially, investors had concluded the Bank might be taking the first step towards tightening its ultra-loose monetary policy, and the pound rose. But some analysts said not using conventional monetary policy to curb housing prices meant interest rates could remain low for longer.

However in the last few minutes, Pound/Euro has shot up to €1.2022 and Pound/Dollar has risen to $1.6364. I put this down to profit taking: as the European markets closed at 4pm a few minutes ago, investors wound up their positions ahead of the weekend, causing a spike in the value of the Pound:

  

"Boom!"

• So will these levels now be sustained against the Euro? 
• Will rates drop back away as they have been doing over several weeks?

I'll be back in action on Monday with a full analysis and round up of the future forecasts for exchange rates. 

In the meantime, if you're looking for the best exchange rates, or would simply like to discuss the current market to help you decide when to convert your funds, then send me a free enquiry. 

The rates I can help you achieve can be up to 5% better than banks and other financial institutions, so by getting in touch you can save yourself a considerable sum. 

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I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great weekend.

Alastair Archbold