- Pound (GBP) extends gains as negative rate speculation fades
- Tighter lockdown & 24 /7 vaccine programme
- Euro (EUR) under pressure despite impressive data
- German GDP to show -5.1% annually
The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is extending gains for a sixth straight session . The pair settled +0.2% in the previous session at €1.1216, after hitting an almost 2 month high of €1.1259 earlier in the session. At 05:15 UTC, GBP/EUR trades +0.05% at €1.1220.
Investors were seen returning to the Pound on Wednesday as the latest round of negative rate speculation died down. Comments from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey earlier in the week played down the chances of negative rates and further boosted the recovery of the Pound
Covid cases care starting to fall slowly in the UK as the lockdown restrictions take effect. However, the death toll continues to climb hitting a record 1564 on Wednesday. Boris Johnson and his government continue to mull over the possibility of tightening lockdown restrictions further.
Still markets are looking beyond these grim figures with the Pound cheering the prospect of a 24 /7 vaccine rollout programme. This would ensure that the most vulnerable are vaccinated sooner and the economy can reopen sooner.
There is no high impacting UK economic data due today, so sentiment and covid developments will be eyed.
Despite more encouraging Eurozone data, the Euro came under pressure across the board in the previous session.
Industrial production continued to strengthen in November, rising by 2.5% month on month. This was well above the 0.2% expansion that analysts had forecast. The data added to evidence that thw manufacturing sector provided a much needed lift to the economy in the fourth quarter. Even so, the months ahead remain very uncertain as covid lockdown restrictions are extended.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde also dragged on the common currency following comments that the ECB were closely monitoring the exchange rate.
Looking ahead German full year GDP data is expected to show a 5.1% decline. A weaker than forecast reading could send the Euro lower.
