- Pound (GBP) falls, extending losses from last week
- Pressure mounts on PM Starmer to resign
- Euro (EUR) rises, encouraging data
- Eurozone investor sentiment brightens to an 8-month high
The Pound-Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is falling after losses last week. The pair fell 0.29% in the previous week, settling on Friday at €1.1520. It traded between €1.1466 and €1.1614. At 14:30 UTC on Monday, GBP/EUR trades -0.50% lower at €1.1462.
The pound is falling sharply against the euro amid growing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign.
UK government bond yields are rising, and the pound is tumbling amid rising questions about the future of the Prime Minister following the resignation of his director of communications a day after his chief of staff quit.
Keir Starmer’s director of communications announced his departure today, lifting guilt yields to session highs. This came after the chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday, saying he took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador despite his links to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The 10-year gilt yield rose to a high of 4.569% before easing back following some calming words from Keir Starmer. However, this story is unlikely to disappear fast.
Meanwhile, the pound will also look ahead to UK GDP data later in the week, which is expected to show that growth stalled in the final quarter of last year.
Meanwhile, the euro is finding strength, supported by stronger-than-expected investor sentiment.
The Sentix Investor Confidence Index jumped sharply in February to 4.2, up from -1.8in January. This marked the third consecutive month of improvement and reached the highest level since July 2025.
According to Sentix the latest figures suggest the eurozone economy could be emerging from its downturn with an upturn looking more likely.
The strong rebound in sentiment indicates improving investor expectations following months of weak economic momentum.
Looking ahead across the week, the eurozone economic calendar is relatively quiet; however, there will be numerous speeches from ECP policymakers, including President Christine Lagarde.
