Staying on top of the latest currency news can help you time your transfers more effectively, so here’s what you should be looking out for over the next couple of weeks…
Latest currency news
The past couple of weeks has seen Brexit uncertainties dominate currency markets, prompting considerable volatility in the pound along the way.
This has seen GBP/EUR drop from a high of €1.14 to €1.13 over the last two weeks.
At the same time a firmer US dollar has resulted in GBP/USD falling from $1.31 to $1.30 and EUR/USD holding at a low of $1.15.
What’s been happening?
In terms of GBP movement nearly everything has been driven by Brexit sentiment, with the UK’s failure to secure a deal with the EU prompting significant volatility in the pound.
The euro has also had a difficult time in recent weeks, with some positive data being overshadowed by an escalating row between Italy and the rest of the EU as Rome looks to flout EU rules by seeking to run a 2.4% deficit in its 2019 budget.
Meanwhile the uncertainty surrounding both the pound and euro proved to a major boon for the US dollar, with rising safe-haven demand, coupled with a hawkish outlook from the Federal Reserve helping to propel USD exchange rates higher.
What do you need to look out for?
Brexit is likely to remain the most pressing concern for GBP investors over the next couple of weeks, with further weakness in Sterling expected unless some positive progress towards a deal is made.
Also of note will be the Bank of England’s latest rate decision at the start of November, with markets hoping the recent bump in wage growth will lead to a more hawkish outlook from the bank.
At the same time the upcoming Eurozone PMI figures could place some more downward pressure on the euro over the coming weeks as economists forecast they will highlight the bloc’s continued slowdown.
Finally the US dollar may run out of steam over the next couple of weeks, with the release of the latest US GDP figures expected to confirm the second quarter’s surge in growth failed to carry over to the third quarter.
Our friends at Currencies Direct
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Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 250,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.
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