31/08/2017 – This Morning’s Exchange Rates
- Posted by currencies in Rate Alerts
- August 31, 2017
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The exchange rates are listed at the bottom of this article. Please note the rates listed are for indication only. For live rates please contact us.
Sterling rebounded from 11-month lows to gain over half a percent versus the euro on Wednesday on speculation the European Central Bank might not tolerate a strengthening single currency for too long.
Focus remains on euro area inflation in August. Yesterday’s German and Spanish figures were both higher than expected but the upside surprise was driven mainly by energy price inflation and the higher inflation should not alter the ECB’s current view on its monetary policy strategy.
Euro area and German unemployment rate figures are also due for release today. Both figures have declined over the past years and the German unemployment rate is very low in a historical perspective. This has been one factor supporting consumer sentiment, which is at the highest level in more than 15 years. The ongoing strong economic situation in Germany bodes well for Angela Merkel in the upcoming election.
US inflation figures will attract attention in the afternoon with the release of the PCE figure. The decline in PCE core inflation in the first half of this year has sparked some concern about lack of inflation pressure within the Fed.
Nevertheless, the Fed has said quantitative tightening will begin ‘relatively soon’ and we expect it to be announced in September.
The U.S. dollar continued its recovery from a 2.5-year low on Tuesday, supported by U.S. economic data which surpassed economists’ expectations.
With a GDP growth at 3% the U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in more than two years, while ADP employment data showed private-sector payrolls up by 237 thousand compared to the expectations of only 185 thousand.
GBP/EUR 1.0822
GBP/USD 1.2884
GBP/AED 4.6361
GBP/AUD 1.6314
GBP/CAD 1.6269
GBP/CHF 1.2408
GBP/NZD 1.8003
EUR/USD 1.1865
GBP/ZAR 16.696
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