The pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is rising towards €1.1575.
The EUR is falling, giving back earlier gains despite growth in the manufacturing sector, and as political uncertainty in France weighed.
Eurozone manufacturing PMI rebounded to 50.7 in August, marking the first expansion in the sector in three years, amid improving domestic demand and rising new orders.
However, political jitters in France rise ahead of the vote of no confidence next week.
The pound is rising, recovering earlier losses as the market weighs up UK manufacturing PMI, which showed that the sector contracted for an 11th straight month. The PMI was 47 in Augus,t down from 48 in July.