- Pound (GBP) extends recovery from Friday despite BoE Governor Andrew Bailey talking negative rates and ahead of Brexit talks
- UK construction PMI up next
- US Dollar (USD) weak as risk sentiment rallies even though coronavirus cases rise
- Pound US Dollar exchange rate (GBP/USD) attacks US$1.25
The Pound US Dollar exchange rate rallied 0.15% on Friday, settling at US$1.2485. Across the previous week, the pair surged 1.2%. At the start of the new week, GBP/USD trades 0.2% higher at US$1.25.
The Pound is trading broadly lower versus its peers, albeit higher versus the US Dollar amid rising concerns that the Bank of England could adopt negative interest rates. According to a report over the weekend, the BoE Governor Andrew Bailey is preparing the City for negative rates.
Brexit talks are due to start again, in London, as planned, despite talks finishing early last week. With significant differences between the EU and the UK, the two sides have a lot of ground to makeup for an outline deal to be ready by the end of this month.
UK Construction PMI figures are due to be released. Analysts are expecting the data to reveal that the contraction in the sector slowed in June as construction sites re-opened.
The risk mood in the market is dragging the safe haven US Dollar lower. Investors are starting the week upbeat amid growing expectations that a revival in Chinese activity will help sustain global economic growth. Chinese data has been upbeat, mobility data indicates that life is returning quickly to normal and any flare ups in covid-19 cases have quickly been stamped out. Chinese stocks are trading at a 5 year high.
Optimism that China will help to sustain the global economic recovery overshadowed rising coronavirus statistics. The World Health Organization reported 212,000 new daily coronavirus cases, a record level. US, India and Brazil led the way with the most new cases, raising fears that he economic recovery in the US could be knocked off track if reopening measures are rolled back.
US ISM non-manufacturing data will be in focus and is expected to show that the dominant service sector is almost back in the expansion zone. A strong reading could boost sentiment further a drag on the US Dollar.