Wednesday was a big day for UK Chancellor Philip Hammond and UK fiscal policy. However, the Autumn Budget in the UK ended up having little notable impact on sterling. The pound euro exchange rate was trading approximately at the same level at the end of Hammond’s speech before Parliament as it was at the beginning. Towards the close, the pound was trading marginally lower than the euro at €1.1273.
| 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. |
Philip Hammond succeeded in deflecting attention away from poor UK growth forecasts made by the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR slashed economic growth forecasts for the UK to 1.5% in 2017, down from the 2% predicted earlier this year. In addition, they also changed the 2018 forecasts for England’s GDP down from 1.6% to 1.4%, and the 2019 and 2020 growth to just 1.3%. On the announcement of the growth cuts, the pound faltered.
| Why does poor economic data drag on a country’s currency? |
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| Slowing economic indicators point to a slowing economy. Weak economies have weaker currencies because institutions look to reduce investments in countries where growth prospects are low and then transfer money to countries with higher growth prospects. These institutions sell out of their investment and the local currency, thus increasing supply of the currency and pushing down the money’s worth. So, when a country or region has poor economic news, the value of the currency tends to fall. |
Despite bad news, Hammond successfully diverted attention with his spending revelations, such as £44 billion towards housing and a freeze on beer, wine and spirit duty. The Chancellor offered extra support to the pound by pledging a £3 billion for Brexit preparations. Sounding more upbeat than usual over Brexit, Hammond has set the funds aside for contingency plans to help the government prepare for every possible outcome. This will appease some hard line Brexiteers.
Today, the focus switches back to Great Britain’s economic data. Analysts are forecasting that UK economic growth for the third quarter will be 1.5% on an annual basis or 0.3% quarter on quarter. Any figure lower than the estimates could cause sterling to depreciate.
Eurozone Consumer Confidence Highest in 17 Years
Demand for the euro has been limited this week due to the ongoing political turmoil in Germany. The inability of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrat Union to officially form a government had been making it easier for the pound to sustain gains against the euro.
However, pushing politics aside, strong eurozone consumer confidence data boosted investors’ interest in the euro on Wednesday. Analysts had been expecting consumer confidence to improve from -1 to -0.8 in November. However, the reading was surprisingly upbeat at 0.1. This represented the first positive consumer confidence figure since 2001. As a result, the euro strengthened.
Today, euro traders will be watching out for any political developments in Germany. There is also a substantial amount of influential data such as German GDP, and eurozone PMI data for November which, if strong, could boost the euro.
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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. |
