The Pound enjoyed a fairly tame end to the week, with very little economic data released that could affect the markets. In fact, the Pound has been deadlocked with the Euro and US Dollar for the best part of a week. I think the main reason for this is investor confidence or sentiment – investors seem to be waiting for the next bit of news regarding Brexit negotiations.
For any one with a Sterling requirement, waiting until the news comes out is in my opinion a risky game plan. Any news regarding the UK position during Brexit has the ability to heavily impact exchange rates, so being ready to move in a moment’s notice is key throughout Brexit talks.
Things are due to heat up again economically next week, as inflation data for the UK is released. Inflation has been well covered in recent times, due to us leaving the EU causing a dip in Sterling’s value, the cost of everyday items goes up too. This isn’t such a bad thing as long as people’s wages go up alongside this, which at present they aren’t.
This has left the Bank of England (BoE) with some difficult questions, and whether or not to raise interest rates as a way of combating such issues is currently leaving the Monetary Policy Committee divided. Next week should give us a clearer view of what the BoE will do if inflation jumps.