GBP/EUR hits highest levels since February

With demand for higher-risk currencies dropping in reaction to growing geopolitical tensions, the pound was able to hit new highs against currencies like the euro and US dollar.

The GBP/EUR exchange rate advanced to €1.1821 – it’s highest levels since February – while GBP/USD approached $1.26.

GBP/AUD stormed 0.7% higher as soon as markets opened on Monday to strike AU$1.6674 while GBP/NZD rallied to NZ$1.7962.

What news is likely to drive the major currencies today? Keep scrolling to find out...

What’s been happening?

Last week President Donald Trump sent the US dollar tumbling when he asserted that the currency is currently overvalued, and GBP/USD has managed to hold above the $1.25 level ever since.

The pound’s strength against the other majors is partially due to concerns surrounding the increasingly tempestuous relationship between the US and North Korea.

With North Korea attempting to demonstrate its strength over the weekend with a military parade featuring a number of long-distance missiles, currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars slumped.

The US dollar also slid as a result of the North Korean news on the belief that geopolitical uncertainty could prevent the Federal Reserve from increasing interest rates as rapidly as previously hoped.

Meanwhile, speculation that the outcome of the French Presidential election could be too close to call helped the pound rack up gains against the euro.

What’s coming up?

There’s no UK news scheduled for release today, so pound movement could be limited.

Some GBP/USD fluctuations may be inspired by the US building permits, housing starts and manufacturing/industrial production reports.

If the data impresses, the pound may give up some of its recent gains in hopes that domestic strength will be enough to push the Fed into continuing its rate-hiking policy.

GBP/CAD could also experience movement following the release of Canada’s existing home sales report given current concerns about Canada’s housing market.

The week’s main causes of pound movement are likely to be a speech from Bank of England (BoE) Governor Mark Carney on Thursday and the UK’s latest retail sales numbers on Friday.

Consumer spending is believed to have fallen by -0.5% on the month, taking the annual figure from 4.1% to 3.8%.

If retail sales are shown to have dropped in March the pound could slide at the end of the week.

Phil McHugh,
Trading Floor Manager

Phil looks after our large corporate clients, providing dealing and hedging services whilst also helping to manage Currencies Direct overall market exposure.