Trump to meet Kim again – May pushes for backstop renegotiation
Daily Currency Update
It was a poor day for the pound yesterday as it succumbed to Brexit concerns with GBP/USD slipping back under 1.30 for the first time in two weeks. Starting the day around 1.3050 the first move lower was driven by a poor UK Services PMI which indicated the sector, which makes up 80% of the UKs economic output had ground to a halt on Brexit uncertainty. The report posted 50.1 just above a no growth level of 50.0 and down from last month’s 51.2. With markets expecting another reading around the 51 handle the pound dipped on the under-par print with the authors stating that fourth quarter GDP for 2018 is likely to show 0.1% growth when official figures are released next week and that Q1 2019 is likely to be flat. The move below 1.30 occurred as Theresa May spoke in Belfast to assure the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland there would be no return to a hard border whatever the outcome of Brexit talks. Despite the warm words, the PM said nothing new on the subject and the markets decided to sell the pound as this highlighted the ongoing impasse between the two sides. May is set to meet politicians from the five main Northern Ireland political parties later today before travelling for another round of talks with EU leaders tomorrow. Away from politics tomorrow brings the latest Bank of England interest rate decision and Inflation Report however expect a lot of the guidance issued from Bank chief, Mark Carney to be hinged on future Brexit developments. GBP/USD is trading around 1.2950.Key Movers
US President, Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address to Congress last night with the major takeaway the confirmation that Trump is set for another face to face meeting with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un in Vietnam at the end of the month. The President took time to criticise ongoing investigations into his election campaign as well as reiterating his intention to build a security wall along the Mexican border, although he stopped short of confirming he would be invoking emergency measures entitled to him as President to get it built. The dollar lost some ground against the yen and euro on the speech however the moves were fairly muted as much of the content was expected by the markets. Data-wise yesterday saw a miss for the monthly ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI which posted 56.7 lower than the 57.2 penciled in by analysts. EUR/USD is just under 1.14 with USD/JPY at 109.60 ahead of a data-thin day from the States and a risk-off environment globally.It’s dead as a doornail in the Eurozone this week with no top tier data due again today. Tomorrows EU Economic Forecasts issued from the European Commission will be tomorrow’s main talking point with Italy’s recent drop into technical recession and the slowdown in Germany likely to drag on growth expectations for the bloc. GBP/EUR trades at 1.1375.
The main talking point from Down Under was a speech from Reserve Bank of Australia Governor, Philip Lowe in Sydney which pushed the Aussie lower. In the Q and A session after the speech Lowe opened the door to lower interest rates as a way of stimulating the economy. The hint of a possible move to a loosening of monetary policy sent AUD/USD falling from around .7240 to its current level of .7125. GBP/AUD trades at 1.82.
With Brent Crude holding above $60 a barrel the loonie has seen some support as a result. It currently sits at the $62.3pb with USD/CAD trading just above the 1.31 handle. Tonight’s speech by Trump will be the main focus for markets with a conciliatory tone likely to benefit risk assets, whether we get that is far from certain however. GBP/CAD trades at 1.7095.
With the Southern hemisphere summer in full swing, Chinese New Year taking place and tomorrow seeing the national Waitangi Day holiday its very quiet in New Zealand at the moment. The one event of note from NZ this week will be Thursday’s employment figures with the unemployment level expected to tick up from 3.9% to 4.1%. GBP/NZD trades at 1.8935.
Expected Ranges
- GBP/USD: 1.2930 - 1.3060 ▼
- GBP/EUR: 1.1340 - 1.1445 ▼
- GBP/AUD: 1.8040 - 1.8200 ▲
- GBP/CAD: 1.7040 - 1.7180 ▼
- GBP/NZD: 1.8880 - 1.9030 ▼