GBP/USD: Pound Continues To Resist Dollar Despite Brexit Uncertainty

The pound had a volatile time in the last two days. Although, it is relatively strong compared to its performance during the beginning of this month, it saw a slight downfall yesterday afternoon when it fell to a low of 1.4128 before consistently rising to 1.4200 and then suddenly rising again to 1.4240.

What do these figures mean?

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 = 1.28934 USD

Here, £1 is equivalent to approximately $1.29. This specifically measures the pound’s worth against the dollar. If the US dollar amount increases in this pairing, it’s positive for the pound.

Or, if you were looking at it the other way around: 1 USD = 0.77786 GBP

In this example, $1 is equivalent to approximately £0.78. This measures the US dollar’s worth versus the British pound. If the sterling number gets larger, it’s good news for the dollar.

Reports came in suggesting that EU officials told British financiers that they will not agree to a deal that would allow finance companies to operate in each others’ markets without barriers. This was a proposal that was initiated by the City of London but was then reportedly rejected by the EU market. This news brought in volatility into the pound for a while because it intensified the already growing uncertainty surrounding post-Brexit trade deal and EU’s rejection of a single market for finance companies would be bad for British economy.

Why is a smooth Brexit good for the pound?
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.

Dollar struggles against high economic growth in UK

The dollar continued to struggle against the pound despite a optimism from US Federal Reserve. It continues to remain around its three-year low against a lot of major currencies, and especially the pound. The dollar seems to be struggling overall this year due to monetary tightening in other parts of the world, and a stronger economic growth in the UK which encourages investors to put their money in pound instead. It did not help that US Fed kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday. However, it also said that inflation is likely to quicken this year, increasing expectations that an interest rate hike is around the corner. Investors will keep a close watch on a host of economic indicators in hopes that they encourage a rate hike and push the dollar higher.

Investors will continue to look at developments concerning post-Brexit trade negotiations and any new sign that UK Prime Minister Theresa May is moving towards finalizing a trade deal will add to pound’s stability. The UK will tomorrow see the release of its Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) for the construction sector. PMI surveys purchasing managers at businesses that comprise a given sector. It is a very important indicator for the health of UK’s economy as construction forms a very crucial part of it. In US, the calendar today is full of important economic data releases. Of these, jobless claims data, manufacturing growth rate and employment rate are the most crucial. Should these figures come in lower than what the analysts are expecting, the dollar might weaken.

Why does strong economic data boost a country’s currency?
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.


This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from TransferWise Inc., Currency Live or its affiliates. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date. Consult our risk warning page for more details.

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.