Pound Sterling edges higher as Middle East war de-escalates
- The Pound Sterling ticks up against its major peers amid significant de-escalation in the Middle East war.
- Both the US and Iran have expressed willingness to end the month-long war.
- Investors await the US ADP Employment Change and the ISM Manufacturing PMI data for March.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) trades slightly higher against its major currency peers, rising 0.12% to near 1.3242, during the Asian trading session on Wednesday. The British currency gains as demand for riskier assets has improved, following the announcement from Iran that is willing to end the war with the United States (US).
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% | -0.06% | -0.05% | -0.08% | -0.14% | 0.18% | -0.22% | |
| EUR | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.07% | 0.03% | -0.02% | 0.30% | -0.11% | |
| GBP | 0.06% | -0.05% | 0.04% | -0.01% | -0.06% | 0.27% | -0.13% | |
| JPY | 0.05% | -0.07% | -0.04% | -0.02% | -0.05% | 0.23% | -0.12% | |
| CAD | 0.08% | -0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% | -0.04% | 0.27% | -0.12% | |
| AUD | 0.14% | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.33% | -0.07% | |
| NZD | -0.18% | -0.30% | -0.27% | -0.23% | -0.27% | -0.33% | -0.40% | |
| CHF | 0.22% | 0.11% | 0.13% | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.07% | 0.40% |
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).
According to the Iranian state news agency, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told European Union (EU) Council President António Costa on Tuesday that his country is ready to end the war with the US, but it needs certain guarantees.
"We possess the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met, especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression," Iranian President Pezeshkian said, according to Euronews.
Iran’s readiness for peace after United States (US) President Donald Trump’s truce call has diminished fears of further damage to energy infrastructure in the gulf region; however, there seems to be no significant decline in the oil price as energy supply constraints will sustain until the restoration of the infrastructure.
Meanwhile, fresh hopes of Middle East war de-escalation has diminished the safe-haven demand of the US Dollar, while its downside is expected to remain limited, as higher oil prices would keep discouraging Federal Reserve (Fed) officials from easing monetary conditions.
In Wednesday's session, investors will focus on the US ADP Employment Change and the ISM Manufacturing PMI data for March.
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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