Exchange Rate News: Currencies Volatile As US Default Averted

Published: 17 Oct at 10 AM Tags: Euro, Dollar, Pound Sterling, America, UK, Eurozone, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Japan, South Africa,

Pound Sterling
GBP/EUR – Trading in the Region of 1.1843
Unexpectedly positive UK employment data buoyed the Pound yesterday, and the British currency’s bullish relationship with its peers looks set to last to the weekend as UK retail sales climbed by significantly more than forecast, month-on-month.

US Dollar
USD/EUR – Trading in the Region of 0.7345
During North American trading the ‘Buck’ slid against higher-risk peers like the Euro and Pound as Congress finally agreed to raise the US borrowing limit and bring an end to the partial government shutdown. However, as the solution only extends into early 2014, meaning that market uncertainty will swiftly return, the US Dollar also softened against the safe-haven Yen.

Euro
EUR/USD – Trading in the Region of 1.3616
While today’s Eurozone current account and construction output figures will be of interest, Euro movement will be dictated by global developments today, with the EUR/GBP pairing expected to extend declines as a result of positive UK retail sales data.

Australian Dollar
AUD/USD – Trading in the Region 0.9556
With a potentially disastrous US default averted, the higher-risk ‘Aussie’ consolidated recent gains overnight and continued to trade strongly against the ‘Greenback’. An improvement in Australia’s NAB business confidence index also supported the Australian Dollar overnight.

New Zealand Dollar
NZD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.8423
The ‘Kiwi’ snapped through its recent restricted trading range against its US counterpart overnight as Congress brokered a debt ceiling deal. The South Pacific currency also advanced on several of its other rivals in response to New Zealand’s consumer confidence index rising.

Canadian Dollar
CAD/USD – Trading in the Region of 0.9709
The ‘Loonie’ jumped to a week high against its US counterpart ahead of tomorrow’s Canadian inflation data as the US debt ceiling deal improved Canada’s trade prospects.

Japanese Yen
USD/JPY – Trading in the Region of 98.2800
The Yen advanced on its North American peer overnight as the temporary US debt ceiling deal failed to banish political uncertainty and heightened the appeal of the safe-haven Asian asset.

South African Rand
USD/ZAR – Trading in the Region of 9.8023
In the wake of yesterday’s positive South African retail sales report the Rand posted a notable gain against the US Dollar. The commodity-driven currency then extended its advance against the ‘Buck’ as it broadly softened in response to US political developments.
As of Thursday, 17th October 2013, the Pound Sterling currency rates mentioned within this news item were as follows:

GBP EUR exchange rate was 1.1822, GBP USD exchange rate was 1.6159, GBP AUD exchange rate was 1.6794, GBP NZD exchange rate was 1.9102, GBP CAD exchange rate was 1.6642, GBP JPY exchange rate was 158.4453, and GBP ZAR exchange rate was 15.8805.

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