EUR/GBP remains weak near 0.8650 after UK employment data
- EUR/GBP holds losses around 0.8665 in Thursday’s early European session.
- UK Unemployment Rate rose to 4.7% in three months to May; Claimant Count Change came in at 25.9K in June.
- Trump said a deal could possibly be reached with Europe.
The EUR/GBP cross trades in negative territory around 0.8665 during the early European session on Thursday. The Pound Sterling (GBP) remains weak against the Euro (EUR) after the UK employment data. Traders will keep an eye on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) inflation data from the Eurozone, which is due on Thursday.
Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics on Tuesday showed that the country’s ILO Unemployment Rate ticked higher to 4.7% in the three months to May versus 4.5% prior. This figure came in below the expectations of 4.6% during the reported period.
Meanwhile, the Claimant Count Change increased by 25.9K in June versus 33.1K prior, above the consensus of 17.9K. The GBP holds losses in an immediate reaction to the UK employment report.
US President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that his administration was very close to a trade agreement with India and a deal could possibly be reached with Europe. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding the US-EU trade deal. Higher US tariffs on imports from the EU would further weaken growth in the Eurozone and likely prompt the European Central Bank (ECB) to lower borrowing costs. This, in turn, could drag the shared currency lower in the near term.
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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