Pound Sterling rises on Russia-Ukraine peace optimism, US-Iran talks awaited
- The Pound Sterling moves higher against its major peers on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace.
- Kremlin said Russia wants peace, and not a ceasefire.
- Investors await US-Iran negotiations and the US CPI data for March.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) trades higher against its major currency peers, except other European currencies, edging up to near 1.3444 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Friday.
Pound Sterling Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.11% | -0.04% | 0.14% | 0.15% | 0.22% | 0.29% | -0.17% | |
| EUR | 0.11% | 0.07% | 0.28% | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.42% | -0.06% | |
| GBP | 0.04% | -0.07% | 0.21% | 0.19% | 0.25% | 0.33% | -0.15% | |
| JPY | -0.14% | -0.28% | -0.21% | -0.01% | 0.07% | 0.10% | -0.36% | |
| CAD | -0.15% | -0.26% | -0.19% | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.14% | -0.33% | |
| AUD | -0.22% | -0.31% | -0.25% | -0.07% | -0.06% | 0.08% | -0.41% | |
| NZD | -0.29% | -0.42% | -0.33% | -0.10% | -0.14% | -0.08% | -0.48% | |
| CHF | 0.17% | 0.06% | 0.15% | 0.36% | 0.33% | 0.41% | 0.48% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
The British currency gains on hopes that Russia and Ukraine could reach a peace deal after a four-year long bloodiest war. A Bloomberg report showed that a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is close to reaching a peace deal with Russia.
Separately, the Kremlin said that there can be peace with Ukraine today if President Zelenskyy makes the decision. A top official from the Kremlin has also stated that Russia wants peace, not a ceasefire.
Theoretically, signs of easing geopolitical tensions improve demand for riskier assets.
Meanwhile, investors await scheduled talks between the United States (US) and Iran, which will be over the weekend in Pakistan. Both nations are expected to negotiate on terms in the 10-point peace plan proposed by Iran for a permanent ceasefire.
On the macro front, investors await the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for March, which will be published at 12:30 GMT. Investors will closely track the inflation data as it will reflect the impact of elevated oil prices.
The US CPI report is expected to show that the headline inflation accelerated to 3.3% Year-on-Year (YoY) from 2.4% in February. On a monthly basis, the headline inflation is expected to have grown at a faster pace of 0.9% against the previous reading of 0.3%.
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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