News of “no deal yet” between Britain and the EU, pulled the pound off its earlier highs on Monday. The pound had charged through €1.14 to hit a monthly high versus the common currency, as investors grew in confidence that UK Prime Minister Theresa May would secure a Brexit deal. The hopes were premature and disappointment sent the pound back towards €1.1360.
| What do these figures mean? |
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When measuring the value of a pair of currencies, one set equals 1 unit and the other shows the current equivalent. As the market moves, the amount will vary from minute to minute. For example, it could be written: 1 GBP = 1.13990 EUR Here, £1 is equivalent to approximately €1.14. This specifically measures the pound’s worth against the euro. If the euro amount increases in this pairing, it’s positive for the pound. Or, if you were looking at it the other way around: 1 EUR = 0.87271 GBP In this example, €1 is equivalent to approximately £0.87. This measures the euro’s worth versus the British pound. If the sterling number gets larger, it’s good news for the euro. |
Volatility in the pound in the previous session, showed just how politically sensitive the pound is. Pound investors were glued to Brexit deal headlines, almost ignoring data that showed the UK construction industry rebounded in November.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May and President of the European Commission Jean Claude-Juncker sent the pound sharply lower when they said that no deal had been reached. Issues over the Irish border dispute prevented talks from moving forwards. Opposition from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party, which gives Theresa May her majority in Parliament, dampened the chances of a draft deal between Dublin and London.
More talks will take place later in the week. Pound traders are nervous as no deal would mean that Brexit talks will not progress to 2nd phase negotiations. Only in the 2nd phase are discussions over future trading relationships between the UK and the EU able to begin. Similarly, only in the second phase of talks is the EU willing to discuss a possible transition deal. A transition deal would make a smooth Brexit more likely, which is more beneficial to the pound. Therefore, any suggestions that progress to 2nd phase talks isn’t happening, causes the pound to drop.
| Why is a smooth Brexit good for the pound? |
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| A smoother Brexit would be a scenario in which the economic consequences of leaving the European Union are minimised. This is favourable for the pound because the less the Brexit impact on the economy, the more likely that foreign investors will remain interested in the UK. Foreign investors need sterling to invest in the country and so the more GBP is purchased, the higher the demand and, thus, an increase in the currency’s value. |
Both sides still expect the UK to have made sufficient progress by the EU summit due in 2 weeks, for the next phase of talks to begin. Theresa May and Juncker both sounded optimistic, which limited the sell off in the pound.
Should there be a lull in Brexit headlines today, investors may turn their attention to UK service sector PMI data. This forward-looking indicator could give traders an idea as to how well the UK dominant service sector is holding up. The PMI, or Purchasing Managers Index measures the health of the industry by surveying Purchasing Managers. A strong reading, could boost the pound to regain some of Monday’s losses.
| Why does strong economic data boost a country’s currency? |
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| Solid economic indicators point to a strong economy. Strong economies have strong currencies because institutions look to invest in countries where growth prospects are high. These institutions require local currency to invest in the country, thus increasing demand and pushing up the money’s worth. So, when a country or region has good economic news, the value of the currency tends to rise. |
Retail Sales In Focus For Euro Traders
The euro had a quiet start to the week. Today could see demand for the euro pick up, if the retail sales data impresses investors.
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This article was initially published on TransferWise.com from the same author. The content at Currency Live is the sole opinion of the authors and in no way reflects the views of TransferWise Inc. |
