- Quiet session expected owing to UK & US public holidays
- USD eases after stronger start owing to souring US – Sino relations
- China formerly tabled a national security law for both Hong Kong and Macau.
- At 07:15 UTC, GBP/USD is trading +0.1% at US$1.2174 >> Real time exchange rate
The Pound is tentatively extending gains versus the US Dollar on Monday. The Pound US Dollar exchange rate managed to eek out a 0.5% gain across the previous week, closing on Friday at US$1.2166, up from the two-month low of US$1.2075 struck earlier in the week.
At 07:15 UTC, GBP/USD +0.1% at US$1.2174 in a slow start as both the US and the UK are closed for public holiday.
The Pound remains under pressure following a slew of grim data last week and as investors continue to speculate over the likelihood of the Bank of England setting negative interest rates.
The claimant count, inflation and retail sales were worse than what analysts were expecting and painted a dire picture of the UK economy. Service sector and manufacturing sector PMI figures were better than what analysts had pencilled in but still showed the dominant UK sectors to be firmly in contraction territory.
The weak data and comments from several BoE policy makers, including Governor Andrew Bailey raised fears that the central bank could adopt negative interest rates.
This week is much quieter, with few releases on the economic calendar. Instead attention will remain focused on coronavirus statistics, the further easing of lockdown measures and any Brexit developments ahead of a key June deadline.
The US Dollar gave up earlier gains on Monday after protests in Hong Kong on Sunday escalated US – China tensions.
Thousands of protestors took to the streets of Hong Kong after China formally tabled a national security law for both Hong Kong and Macau.
US – Sino relations continue to deteriorate with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi saying that the two powers risk a new cold war after President Trump threatened strong measures should China enact the security law.
The US added 33 Chinese companies and institutions to a blacklist on Friday.
There is no US economic data due to be released today. Investors will look ahead to consumer confidence data and home sales due for release on Tuesday.
