- Pound (GBP) extends gains for 6th session
- UK CPI reaches almost decade high
- Euro (EUR) steadies after steep losses
- ECB speakers in focus
The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is on the rise for the sixth straight session. The pair settled just 0.4% higher on Wednesday at €1.1908 after rising as much as €1.1928 earlier in the session, a level last seen in March 2020. At 05:45 UTC, GBP/EUR trades +0.03% at €1.1912.
The Pound charged to a 20-month high on Wednesday after inflation data revealed that UK prices soared at the fastest pace in almost a decade. The consumer price index surged to 4.2% in October, up from 3.1% in September and well ahead of the 3.9% forecast. This was also well ahead of the central bank’s 2% target.
Household energy bills have been the biggest driver of inflation after Ofgem lifted the price cap on domestic gas and electricity bills last month. Petrol prices have also surged.
The strong inflation print comes after encouraging labour market data earlier in the week and has prompted investors to increasingly bet that the BoE could move to raise interest rates at the December meeting.
Today there is no high impacting UK data. Investors could look ahead to retail sales figures tomorrow.
The Euro came under pressure in the previous session after Eurozone core inflation was downwardly revised to 2% from 2.1% in the initial October reading. This was still up very slightly from September’s 1.9%. Headline inflation remains elevated at 4.1%.
The downward revision to headline inflation, in addition to the more dovish tone from the ECB compared to other central banks such as the BoE has added pressure to the Euro.
Today there is no high impacting Eurozone data. Instead, ECB speakers are due to hit the airwaves and are expected to shed more light on the direction of monetary policy at the ECB. Earlier this week ECB President Christine Lagarde pushed back on the prospect of a rate rise in 2022. Should other ECB policy makers do the same the Euro could struggle.
