South Africa News

<h2>Pound Sterling (GBP)</h2> The Pound (GBP) gained against many of its competitors today as hopes rose ahead of tonight’s important parliamentary ‘indicative votes’ in which MPs will expected to come to a consensus on alternative options to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, following its previous rejections. Hopes are riding high that Labour MPs will back an amendment on the common market, which would likely see a successful deal forged between the UK and the EU. With this amendment being the most...

Pound Sterling (GBP) Following the news that UK inflation rates slowed in March, Pound exchange rates fell across the board today. Despite expectations for a GBP rally on such news, Sterling dropped because of concerns that with inflation slowing the Bank of England (BoE) might not commit to a May interest rate hike. As the dust settles from today’s inflation rate data release, the Pound could still see a recovery against its peers on 19th April when UK retail sales figures are released. Levels of annual retail sales in...

Sterling The Pound (GBP) trended down against most of its peers on Thursday, as the Bank of England (BoE) reported that UK lenders were likely rein in consumer credit over the next quarter. According to the report creditors are expected to tightening their lending to the lowest levels seen since the 2008 financial crisis. While the BoE should be happy that household debt is likely to be curbed, Sterling could fall as consumer spending plummets after it fuelled much of the UK’s economic growth last year. Euro The Pound Euro (EUR)...

Pound Sterling (GBP) While major UK developments have taken place recently, Sterling has weathered any negative effects, rising by 0.4% against the Euro and 0.3% against the US Dollar regardless. The latest news has been that the key Article 50 bill, which must be approved to trigger Brexit, has been voted through the House of Commons for a second time. This moves the bill on to the House of Lords for further approval; notably, no amendments were added to the bill before it left the Commons. Friday will bring the last major UK data...

Pound Sterling Sterling was struggling on Tuesday as the UK published below-forecast fourth quarter growth data. While there are still a couple of British reports to be aware of this week, in the days ahead GBP movement is more likely to be occasioned by global economic developments. US Dollar Ahead of the publication of highly influential US durable goods orders and consumer confidence data, the US Dollar was trading in a weaker position against several of its rivals. The ‘Greenback’ came under pressure as blizzard conditions...

Pound Sterling GBP On Monday the Pound was trading in a slightly softer position against the Euro and US Dollar but was holding its own against both the ‘Aussie’ and a broadly softer ‘Kiwi’. Sterling faltered following the publication of slightly disappointing UK Mortgage Approvals and Consumer Credit figures, but the British asset could recoup losses tomorrow if the UK’s GfK Consumer Confidence gauge defies expectations and shows an improvement in sentiment. A positive revision to the UK’s second quarter growth figures would...

Pound Sterling (GBP) With an absence of any fresh British economic data on Wednesday the Pound struggled to build upon its recent gains. The Unionist victory in the Scottish independence referendum sent Sterling higher in the early half of the week, but trader profit locking has curtailed any potential gains. Later on Thursday afternoon Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will give a speech in Wales. Investors will scrutinise his every word for any hints as to the timing of interest rate revisions. Euro (EUR) Yet more...

Pound Sterling GBP The Pound experienced a patchy trading session on Tuesday as the UK’s public finance figures fell flat, the situation in Syria sparked risk aversion and investors locked in profits following last week’s referendum. While Sterling was trending higher against the Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar, it lost ground against the Euro and US Dollar. US Dollar USD Although the US Dollar softened in the wake of yesterday’s poor US existing home sales figures and comments from a Fed official regarding the...

Pound Sterling GBP On Monday the Pound was able to strengthen against some of its most traded peers as the several Scottish independence polls indicated that Scotland will remain part of the UK following this week’s referendum. Sterling was also boosted by the news that house prices rose again in September. As the threat of an overheating UK housing market could see the Bank of England bring forward its timeline for raising interest rates, the news that house prices climbed by 0.9% on a month-on-month basis was Pound supportive....

Pound Sterling GBP Before the publication of the UK’s Construction Output figures, the Pound was trending in a narrow range against peers like the US Dollar and Euro. Sterling was enjoying a bullish relationship with a struggling ‘Aussie’ and was also slightly stronger against the New Zealand and Canadian Dollars. US Dollar USD The US Dollar is in line to post five-day gains against the majority of its currency counterparts this week. The North American asset has derived support over the last few days from largely positive...