EUR/GBP Rate & Comments for 9th July 2010

EUR/GBP - 1.195

Sterling fell yesterday against the US dollar and euro as mixed economic data triggered a sell off of sterling positions. Despite hitting a 2 month high of $1.5241/ £1 – the highest since early May – the pound struggled to make ground. This happened despite data showing a larger than expected rise in industrial production. However, house prices fell and the Bank of England kept the interest base rate and quantitative easing programme on hold as expected. It was revealed a few weeks ago that Bank of England member Andrew Sentence had voted for an increase in interest rates at the last meeting. We will need to wait for 2 weeks until the minutes of yesterday’s meeting are released to see whether any other members of the Bank of England followed suit. Out later today there is monthly PPI data and trade balance data which is expected to show a slight contraction in the UK’s trade deficit. Call in now for a live exchange rate.

In the Euro zone, Germany’s trade surplus shrank by 3bn and the European Central Bank kept rates on hold at 1%. The press conference comments by bank president Jean-Claude Trichet helped boost the euro to above $1.27/1 for the first time since May. The bank president stated that he felt that the recovery was well under well and details over the proposed ‘stress tests’ of government and bank debt helped push the currency higher. The euro pushed below 1.20/ £1 as a result. Out later today, there is Italian and French industrial production data and German PPI purchasing data. Call in for a live exchange rate.

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