Sterling rises against Euro and US Dollar

Tuesday 8th September 2015 
Sterling has continued to gain against both the Euro and Dollar today, and as you can see from the charts below, we’ve seen rates rise steadily since the lows of last week: 

  GBP/EUR

   

    GBP/USD

Why has the Pound gained against the Euro and Dollar? 

Only a week ago, a raft of quite poor data from the UK had poured cold water on the idea that the Bank of England (BoE) would be able to raise interest rates any time soon, and due to this the Pound had weakened against other currencies. The BoE’s governor Mark Carney also said that the slowdown in the Chinese economy could affect UK inflation, further denting the Pound. 

Despite this however, this week we have seen the Pound fighting back. According to Reuters, the main reason for today’s GBP gains was an agreement from a Japanese insurance firm to buy a British insurer in a cash deal for £3.5bn. This huge demand for the Pound is what drove it up against other currencies. Even against the Euro, we saw the Pound rise by 1.5 cents, despite strong EU GDP data and Trade Balance data from Germany that would normally have caused the Euro to gain strength and cause rates to drop. 

What next for Sterling exchange rates? 

Looking forwards, in my view the next 2 days will be very important indeed for Sterling. Tomorrow we have Industrial and Manufacturing production data for the UK along with a GDP estimate. If these are better than forecast then the Pound may gain further. 

Of more importance though will be Thursday’s Bank of England announcements where the BoE's 9 member Monetary Policy Committee will meet and release minutes from the meeting. Last month just one MPC member voted in favour of an immediate rate hike, and there may well be further clues as to when the UK may begin raising rates. If 1 or more of the members vote for higher rates, then expect the Pound to make further gains. However if the minutes suggest that a rate hike is a long way off, with all 9 members voting to keep the status quo, then the Pound is likely to drop back away wiping out the gains we’ve seen this week against the Euro. 

Remember that EU data was very strong today, if it wasn’t for the huge Sterling purchase by the Japanese earlier today as I mentioned above, then Pound/Euro would actually have fallen today. 

Do you need to buy or sell Euros at the best rate? 

A typical purchase of €250,000 to buy a property abroad has differed in cost by over £11,500.00 in the last month alone, which really illustrates how important it is to get your timing right when fixing your rate of exchange. If you need to convert currency and would like to discuss the market and ways to protect you against market fluctuations, I am happy to speak to any potential clients that would like a quotation to compare what I can offer with their bank or existing currency broker. On average the rates I can provide are 2 to 3% better than available elsewhere which can mean huge savings when converting a large sum. 

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GBP/EUR, GBP/USD, GBP/AUD currency forecast

Tuesday 21st July 2015 
In today’s post I’ll take a look at what’s been happening with Sterling/Euro, Sterling/Australian Dollar & Sterling/US Dollar, including where rates may head in the coming months. (If you would like to discuss your currency requirement and obtain a quote on the best exchange rate I can provide, get in touch by clicking here.)

Sterling/Euro 

GBP/EUR rates started the week at new highs of €1.44. This was due to comments from the Bank of England, hinting that interest rates may finally start to rise at the end of the year. This strengthened Sterling pushing it higher against other currencies. 

Today however we’ve seen the rate drop back steadily throughout the day by 1% at the time of writing, as you can see from the chart above. Renewed optimism due to Greece starting to repay it's debts, and the fact they may soon secure a proper bailout, is starting to strengthen the Euro and make it more expensive to buy. Tomorrow, we have the Bank of England (BoE) meeting and minutes on their discussions on rates. If these show that 2 or more of the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) vote for a hike (or even discussed the possibility of it) the Pound may gain further. 

Sterling/Australian Dollar  

GBP/AUD rates are very high at the moment, as you can see from the chart below: 

 
Current levels are at 2.11 which are around the best they’ve been in 8 years. The reason is that China, Australia’s largest trading partner is slowing down, and there is less demand for commodities. Commodity prices are very low at the moment, weakening currencies such as the CAD, NZD, ZAR as I touched on in a recent post.  

Late tonight, the Aussies release inflation data, and there is a speech by their central bank governor. If he hints that interest rates will be cut again, then we could see GBP/AUD go even higher. 

Sterling/US Dollar  

GBP/USD rates have been dropping of late. This is mainly due to the fact US interest rates are expected to rise in a few months’ time, the first major western economy likely to start pushing rates up. The higher return potential means USD is in demand and getting stronger. 


I expect the US Dollar to continue gaining strength in the coming months, and wouldn’t be surprised to see GBP/USD rates back at $1.50 or even below this by the latter part of 2015. 

Getting the best exchange rates 

If you want to get the best possible exchange rates, then contact me for a quote. I provide commercial rates of exchange to private and corporate clients looking to trade £5k+. You can send me a free enquiry using the link below, and I will get in touch personally to discuss your requirements, explain how the service works, and discuss the different options you can consider to help you get the best rate of exchange possible. 

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€1.43 - Will Sterling go higher against Euro?

Thursday 16th July 2015 
The Euro remains incredibly weak today, with GBP/EUR rates settled around the €1.43 mark, a fresh 8 year high. In today’s post I’ll look at the developments over the last few days, what happens next with Greece, why the Euro remains weak, and what might happen to exchange rates in the coming weeks. First, let’s look at how exchange rates have moved so far this week:

ECB agree €7bn loan to Greece

Last night as expected, Greek MPs passed through the reforms that were part of the recent EU bailout deal. As a result, today the European Central Bank (ECB) agreed to provide a €7bn loan to Greece to help it until an actual bailout is approved. The ECB also said it would give more emergency funding to Greece, which could help the banks to open in the coming weeks after being closed all month so far. 

Why is the Euro still weak? 

Many thought once an agreement had been made that the Euro would strengthen and exchange rates would drop back away, however the single currency remains very weak indeed. I’ve seen €1.4350 on the markets today however at the time of writing, GBP/EUR sits around the €1.43 mark. 

The reason the Euro is still weak, is that when you pick apart the current agreement, it’s clear that it’s not actually likely to fix anything. Yes a loan has been granted, but all that means is there will now be a new round of talks on a full third bailout from the EU. Not a great deal has changed, the can has just been kicked further down the road, and what a long road it is!

What happens next with Greece? 

The EU will likely provide the lending to Greece tomorrow. Germany now needs to agree to continue negotiating on the full €86bn bailout. Later this month Greece needs to pass further reforms, and if all that happens, then talks begin again to a full bailout using the European Stability Mechanism. So actually, we are still a long way off from a proper solution to help Greece, hence GBP/EUR exchange rates the best they have been in close to a decade. 

Which way will exchange rates move now? 

It’s impossible to predict of course, but with everyone now likely to have to go back to the negotiating table, and the IMF stating much more needs to be done, all the uncertainty that has been keeping the Euro weak remains. This could keep the Euro weak, and other developments may now push GBP/EUR higher. 

Perhaps they should start printing the Euro on Greece proof paper in the meantime!

If we look at interest rates in the UK, USA and EU, then it’s clear that Britain and the United States will start to raise rates before our European partners. As I explained in a post earlier this week, the rumour of higher interest rates drives investment in a currency due to the higher return. With the EU still pursuing a Quantitative Easing programme, interest rates there are likely to remain low for a long time to come. This means investors will move funds away from the Euro into Sterling and the US Dollar, and this also means the Euro is likely to weaken, and GBP and USD will strengthen. This could mean that GBP/EUR goes higher, but we’ll have to wait and see. 

Do you need the best exchange rates? 

The currency markets are incredibly fickle and notoriously difficult to second guess, but with a sound knowledge of the options available to you and an understanding of what is moving exchange rates, you can make an informed decision on when to fix our rate. 

If you would like a quote on the rates I provide, a chat about the service I offer or simply want to talk about what is happening in the market, contact me for free by using the link below. 

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How solution to Greek crisis could affect exchange rates

Monday 22nd June 2015 
This week, and today in particular, is quite a critical one for Greece, and the GBP/EUR exchange rate along with it. Many headlines are suggesting that this is the ‘Last Chance’ for Greece. There have been many of these before, and I don’t think today will provide a complete solution. 

What exactly is happening in Greece? 

They need to make a debt payment of €1.6 billion by next Tuesday, 30th June. However to be able to actually meet that payment, they need to get a further €7 billion in aid, and that’s what they’re trying to agree today, however to get the funds, the Greeks need to reform pensions and cut spending, which is difficult for their Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to agree to, given he was elected on the premise of ending austerity. 

Early this morning, he met the leaders of the IMF, ECB and EU commission to outline his proposals. Just before lunch, the EU’s finance ministers started a meeting to see if they can agree on a deal to give Greece the bailout funds they need. Later this evening at 6pm all the EU leaders meet for an emergency summit to debate the crisis. 

How could Greece affect the GBP/EUR exchange rate? 

The uncertainty over Greece’s ability to obtain bailout funds has meant there is a risk of them leaving the Euro. This fear has been keeping the Euro weak, and that’s why the GBP/EUR exchange rate has been hovering around the €1.40 level of late. 

If they reach an agreement later today, or later this week, then I would expect the Euro to strengthen and cause the GBP/EUR rate to fall. However we’ve seen quite a few of these ‘last chances’ for Greece, and it could be that this weeks meetings simply kick the can down the road a little further, without actually sorting out the fundamental issues. If so, expect rates to remain supported. With worried Greeks currently withdrawing their savings from the banks in huge amounts, it's clear that a solution needs to be founds quickly. 

Personally I think they will all agree a way forwards sooner or later, which could mean the current GBP/EUR levels may not last for long. 

Are you looking to convert £5000+ on a bank to bank transfer basis, and keen on getting the best exchange rates? 

If you need to convert currency, and would like to get a quote to see how much I could save you on your exchange, then it is certainly worth sending me a free enquiry to obtain a quotation and more information on the services I offer. The rates I can achieve are significantly better than banks and other financial institutions offer, by as much as 5% in some cases. I also offer various types of contracts that can protect you against adverse exchange rate movements that banks don’t usually offer to private clients. 

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Pound/Euro starts to plummets as election uncertainty takes hold

Thursday 2nd April 2015
Since my post a few days ago, we have seen the general downward trend in Sterling/Euro rates resume, falling from €1.38+ to €1.36 in the last couple of days. As the chart below shows, in the last 3 weeks alone the Pound has lost nearly 5% against the Euro: 

Economic data from the UK has actually been quite good! Growth has been revised up, manufacturing has picked up, and the UK is now the fastest growing major western economy. Despite this, it looks like the Pound is going to drop further against the Euro. 

The main reason as I’ve touched on a few times in the last few weeks is the general election. The latest polls suggest a hung parliament and it was this that was the catalyst for the drop earlier in the week. If we cast our minds back to last year’s Scottish referendum, the uncertainty that created pulled Sterling significantly lower against other currencies. The election is likely to have the same effect, and it could potentially be a much greater one. Tonight will also be interesting with the televised debate for 7 leaders, and could also cause the pound to come under pressure. 

Nearly every forecast I’m reading suggests a drop. As an overall majority is highly unlikely, this uncertainty is likely to continue for at least several weeks after the election, which means a very volatile couple of months for the Pound. 

When is the best time to buy Euros? 

If you have Euros to buy in the next 6 months, then you’re still doing very well. Yes the rate has dropped from the recent 8 year high, but the rate is still very good indeed and around 10 cents higher than the start of the year. 

If you need to buy Euros then you can lock in the current rate for up to 2 years by lodging 10% of the Sterling you want to convert. You are then protected against further declines in the rate and know exactly where you are. 

To discuss this or any other Euro purchase we can help you with, click here to make an enquiry. 

When should you sell Euros back to Pounds? 

If you need to convert funds back to Pounds, perhaps from a property sale overseas, then there is every chance the rate could get better for you as the Pound gets weaker. You should just hope this is the case though. 

You can utilise what’s called a Stop Loss order, which means if the market moves against you your rate is fixed at a pre-agreed level, while still allowing you to take advantage of any gains in the market.  

To discuss this or get a quote for your exchange, click here. 

Getting the best Exchange rates 

I work for one of the UK’s leading Foreign Exchange Brokerages; one of the few to be granted an e-money licence from the FCA, which gives you significantly more protection than a firm that is simply authorised by them. Clients that have contacted me directly from this blog over the last 6 years have now converted over £350m Sterling, and saved around 2 to 3% compared to their bank/existing broker. 

I can trade over 35 currency pairs on a bank to bank basis for both private and business clients. We also have segregated client accounts, so you can trade with us safe in the knowledge your funds are very safe and secure. 

If you need the best rates, are converting over £5k and needs funds wired to a bank account, then it is certainly worth getting in touch to see what rate I can offer you. It costs nothing to get in touch for a quote and you will likely be pleasantly surprised how much I can save you by getting you a better rate. I can also talk over various options and strategies you can consider so you can take control over your requirement. Don’t simply sit back and hope an exchange rate will get to a particular level; hope is not a reliable economic tool. Take advantage of my 15 years of experience in Financial Services today. 

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We will be closed over the Bank Holiday weekend, and will be back in action on Tuesday. Enjoy the break!

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. 

Buying or selling Euros? Want the best exchange rate?  

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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. 

Buying or selling Australian Dollars? Want the best exchange rate?  

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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. 

Buying or selling US Dollars? Want the best exchange rate?  

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Sterling/Euro exchange rate forecast Feb 2015

Monday 2nd February 2015
Good morning and welcome to a new trading week. After a very volatile couple of weeks that has seen GBP/EUR hit 7 year highs of €1.35, things have stabilised somewhat, and this morning the rate has dropped back into the €1.32’s. With no significant data of note today, the only thing I can attribute the drop to, is a rumour that the Swiss National Bank will be unofficially targeting a EUR/CHF rate of 1.05. 

Why has the Pound/Euro rate fallen? 

This is significant as they recently ended their policy of keeping the rate at 1.20. They did this by selling CHF and buying Euros to keep the desired rate. These rumours mean the SNB could be buying huge volumes of Euros to keep the rate where they want it, and this demand for Euros has strengthened the single currency and made it more expensive, hence why this could be the reason GBP/EUR rates have fallen a cent this morning. 

Will the Pound/Euro rate go higher or lower in February? 

All in all, with rates to buy Euro still above 1.30 which is close to a 7 year peak, it’s a good time to take stock of any Euro requirements you may have in the coming months. With all the bad news from Europe now priced into the rate, I think we’ll struggle to see it get much higher. Furthermore if the QE measures recently announced by the ECB have the desired effect, we could see the Euro gain further strength and pull GBP/EUR rates lower. 

It’s also worth mentioning Greece – it looks like they won’t default on their debts, and for the time being will be firmly remaining in the Euro, so the initial uncertainty after their election has now subsided, and that’s also why GBP/EUR has stopped climbing. 

Do you want the best possible exchange rates? 

Get in touch with me today to discuss the rates I can offer and the contract types you have at your disposal to ensure you don’t lose out. The consultancy service I provide is free, and involves a chat over the phone regarding your requirements. I can then explain the various options and choices you have to ensure you make an informed decision when to fix a rate. When you decide to fix a rate I can provide you a quotation; the rates I provide are often up to 5% better than banks and other brokers can offer so the savings can be huge. 

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What could affect exchange rates this week? 

Below I have outlined what I think will move exchange rates this week. To discuss how this could affect your currency requirement in more detail, click here to send me a free enquiry. 

Tuesday 3rd February 2015 – The only UK data of note is PMI construction, which looks at the construction sector. It’s a relatively minor release but could affect Sterling. GBP/AUD could face a volatile day however with an Australian Interest Rate decision and following statement. GBP/EUR has recently seen very good gains with trading levels above $1.90. Staying with the antipodean currencies, the NZD could also be affected by Unemployment figures and a central bank speech today. 

Wednesday 4th February 2015 – Again only 1 release from the UK today; services PMI. As an indicator of the economic situation in the UK it can often affect Sterling. Sterling/Euro could also be affect today however by EU Retail Sales, and a policy meeting from the European Central Bank. Across the Pond we have a host of data from the States, including Employment, Manufacturing and Services figures. 

Thursday 5th February 2015 – today we have the Bank of England interest rate decision. I think this will be a non-event; rates won’t change from 0.5% in my view for another year. Elsewhere today we have an economic bulletin from the ECB, Retail Sales from Australia and Jobless claims along with Trade Balance figures from the USA. 

Friday 6th February 2015 – Today the UK releases its Trade Balance figures, which show the difference between imports and exports, and this release often creates some volatility for the Pound. There aren’t any releases from Europe today, but in the afternoon we have Jobs data from the USA. The Non-Farm payrolls in particular can really move the GBP/USD rate. The forecast is for 235,000 new US jobs to have been created, but the actual figure is often very different which could move the Pound/Dollar rate around 1.30pm. 

To discuss how the above could affect your currency requirement in more detail, or to obtain a quotation on the rates I can offer, click here to send me a free enquiry.

Pound/Euro hits €1.35 forecast for 2015

Wednesday 28th January 2015 
In my last post at the end of last week I explained that the European Central Bank (ECB) announcement of a Quantitative Easing (QE programme) had weakened the Euro and pushed the GBP/EUR exchange rate to €1.32. 

I’ve been away from the trading floor on holiday for a few days, but the currency markets have continued to show volatility, with the Pound/Euro rate climbing and briefly touching an incredible new 7 year high of €1.3500 before dropping back away due to growing uncertainty over what the result of the Greek election means for the EU economy.

Greek election causes Euro to weaken further 

At the weekend the Greek Syriza party came to power, and this has caused significant weakness in the Eurozone. You can read a good overview on what’s been happening here on the BBC website.

As far as exchange rates are concerned, the news has caused the Euro to weaken and become cheaper to buy. At one point we briefly saw Sterling/Euro rates hit €1.35 before dropping back to around €1.33 / €1.34. 

Effectively the Syriza party have won because they succeeded in selling an illusion that Greece can stop paying the debt, and still stay in the euro. This is impossible. It’s one or the other, and either option will have further implications to the Euro economy. The Greek people don't seem desperately grateful for the €240 billion they have received in bailouts and are trying to renegotiate their debt. Unless compromise is made there is a real chance Greece could leave the Eurozone, and abandon the Euro to return to the drachma. This would cause massive disruption. There will a government default, corporate defaults and bank defaults. 

In essence it is the uncertainty over what will happen that is causing Euro weakness, and this has presented great buying opportunities for those that need Euros. Rates have climbed to their best in 7 years. To put the recent gains into perspective, this month alone a €250,000 property in Europe is nearly £9000.00 cheaper due to the rise in exchange rates.

Will rates climb higher or drop back towards 1.30? 

It’s impossible to predict exchange rates. However if you need to buy Euros, do consider taking advantage of what are the best rates in 7 years. It may go higher of course, but equally given it has risen by 5 cents already this year alone, it could easily fall back. If you want to hold our for more, then you should have a 'stop loss' in place to cover you should the market go the other way. Get in touch with me today to discuss how these type of contracts work.

I think all the bad news surrounding the Euro has now happened and is therefore reflected in the current rate of exchange. Indeed many in the market believe that a Greek exit from the Eurozone could actually be a good thing for the Euro, so should this become more likely, we may actually see GBP/EUR rates fall. 

It’s also worth noting the Pound isn’t particularly strong. Interest rates are now not l expected to go up for some time and this could hold the Pound back. Also, recently figures showed the best annual UK growth for years, however the rate of growth slowed significantly at the end of 2014, so the Pound is actually a little on the back foot. It's only weakness in the Euro that has caused the gains in the rate, and not any particular strength for Sterling.

Do you have an upcoming currency transaction? 

Whether you’re buying Euros with Sterling, or converting Dollars back to Pounds, whatever your currency needs, I can provide a very competitive quote to compare with your bank or existing broker. I also offer free consultations to discuss which way the market is moving, to help you decide when to fix your exchange rate. In addition, I can explain the various tools and options you can consider to make sure you don’t get lower exchange rate than necessary. 

So if you need to convert one currency to another and are looking for the best exchange rates, click below to make a free enquiry with me today, and take the first step to making the most of your currency. 

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Pound falls further on low inflation

Tuesday 14th October 2014
Sterling has fallen by a further cent today against the Euro, with rates dropping down into the €1.25’s. Against the US Dollar, rates have dropped by 1.5 cents bring rates down into to around $1.59. What has caused the Pound to fall? 

It is due to very low UK inflation numbers. Figures this morning showed that UK inflation fell to a 5 year low of 1.2%. The reason this has caused rates to fall is that these new low inflation numbers meant that an interest rate rise in the UK is very unlikely in the short term. I expect the Bank of England will now hold off well into 2015, probably after the general election. 

On the one hand, the UK economy is the fastest growing in the developed world, and this would normally mean a rise in interest rates. Indeed it’s this speculation that has been driving the Pound up in recent months. However these latest figures change all of that, so it looks like the Pounds run has come to an end for the time being. 

In my most recent report I warned that this could well be the case, and that rates were unlikely to go higher. That has proved to be true and rates have now tumbled away, repeating the trend as I suggested would be that case. 

If you need to buy or sell Euros, click here to make a free enquiry. 

What else could affect exchange rates this week? 

Tomorrow is a key day for Sterling/Euro rates, as we have the latest Unemployment figures for the UK In addition to this we have 2 speeches by the ECB president Mario Draghi at 8am and 7pm respectively, and his comments could cause a change in the value of the Euro. 

For Sterling/Dollar, watch out for a host of economic data from the states such as Retail Sales, manufacturing, Unemployment and House data. Also on Friday we have a speech by FED chair Janet Yellen. If these figures are impressive as recent US data has been, then we could see the US Dollar strengthen and GBP/USD rates drop even further. 

Are you looking for the best exchange rates? 

If you have a currency transaction to conduct in the coming weeks or months, then get in touch with me to see how I can help. I can provide excellent commercial exchange rates that are usually significantly better than banks and other brokers. I can also explain what is likely to move exchange rates in the coming weeks to help you make an informed decision on when to fix a rate. 

I have worked in financial services for over 15 years, specialising in commercial foreign exchange for the last 10. Why not take advantage of my free consultative service to see if I can save you money on your currency exchange. I look forward to hearing from you. 

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Pound/Euro hits new 2 year high €1.28+

Thursday 25th September 2014 
The Pound/Euro rate has surged today, smashing through the €1.28 level to a fresh 2 year high. In fact this is now very close to the best Euro buying rates we’ve seen in 6 years. 

Pound/Euro level breaks €1.28, why has this happened? 

There are 2 reasons for the rise, and both involve the heads of Central banks. Early this morning we saw the European Central Bank president Mario Draghi give a speech, in which he said that they were willing to instigate further stimulus measures if necessary. In other words, it’s likely they will pump money into the economy to try and spur it along, and this has weakened the Euro making it much cheaper to buy. 

He said that "We stand ready to use additional unconventional instruments within our mandate, and alter the size or composition of our unconventional interventions should it become necessary to further address risks of a too prolonged period of low inflation". He also forecast only modest growth in the second half of this year, due to "weaker than expected" preliminary economic data over the summer. 

This afternoon, it was the turn of the Bank of England governor Mark Carney. In his speech which you can read in full here, he said that “with many of the conditions for the economy to normalise now met, the point at which interest rates also begin to normalise is getting closer. In recent months the judgement about precisely when to raise rates has become more balanced.” Adding that “While there is always uncertainty about the future, you can expect interest rates to begin to increase.” 

This has really given the Pound a push higher, and you can see the results of these comments from the ECB and BoE in today’s GBP/EUR chart: 

 

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Will rates keep going up? 

Nobody can predict where rates will go, but I think all the good news about the UK economy is now priced into the market, and I personally can’t see much more gains to be had. 2 years ago we were in a similar position, with many thinking the rate would break €1.30, but within 6 months it was down at €1.15. 

I’m not suggesting it will plummet again, but with the future of the rate impossible to forecast, if you needed to buy Euros is it worth risking these amazing levels currently available? I think those that do have much more to lose than to gain. In my view, you are holding out for an inch and risking losing a yard! 

How to get the best rates of exchange

Whether you are buying or selling Euros, Dollars, Swiss Francs, Aussie Dollars or any international currency, I can help you achieve commercial exchange rates very close to the mid-market level. I also provide various contract types to help protect against the market moving against you. Using my service exchange rates can be fixed for anywhere up to two years into the future, removing uncertainty, fixing a sterling price for your overseas property or imported goods or services. 

To find out more and to get a quote, click here to send me a free enquiry today.