- Pound (GBP) is falling in a quiet session
- The UK economic calendar is quiet
- Euro (EUR) rises as unemployment falls to a record low
- Economic sentiment rises
The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is falling after modest gains yesterday. The pair rose +0.03% in the previous session, settling on Wednesday at €1.1754 and trading in a range between €1.1739 and €1.1789. At 10:00 UTC, GBP/EUR trades -0.05% at €1.1748.
The euro is rising as investors digest later sentiment data from the region and look ahead to inflation data tomorrow.
Eurozone economic sentiment improved in May but by less than expected. The index rose to 96, up from 95.6, but missed forecasts of 96.2. The data came after consumer confidence in Germany improved by more than expected, rising to its highest level in a year amid optimism surrounding easing consumer prices and wage growth.
Unemployment in the eurozone fell to its lowest level on record at 6.4%, beating forecasts of 6.5%. The improving unemployment figure is good news for the region but may pose challenges for the ECB to cut rates aggressively across the year.
Meanwhile, German inflation rose 2.8% year over year, up from 2.4%. Faster-than-expected inflation is unlikely to prevent the European Central Bank from a June rate cut, but it has raised questions about the number of rate cuts that the ECB will be able to carry out after June.
Attention will also be on Eurozone inflation data tomorrow, which is expected to tick higher to 2.5% year on year, up from 2.4%. Much hotter-than-expected inflation data could raise further doubts over any post-June cuts.
The pound is unmoved amid another quiet day on the economic calendar. UK data has been in short supply this week and short which is a short week going to the Monday bank holiday. There is no major data due tomorrow, either.
The focus is instead on the UK elections, which are due to be held on July 4th. The Labour Party, which is expected to win the election, and the ruling Conservative party are laying out their policies.
