GBPThe Pound experienced choppy trading conditions on Friday, especially around the widely expected resignation announcement from Theresa May. The PM will stand down on June 7th following widespread condemnation of her latest Withdrawal Plan proposals and the markets brace for more volatility and political uncertainty and as we draw closer...

GBPSterling continues to be driven by the changing winds of the Brexit storm especially with no UK data releases and the EU elections triggering a media blackout. Despite hitting 1.2606 against the Dollar yesterday, Dollar weakness and optimism for faster Brexit progress once Theresa May resigns took precedence allowed some retracement.

GBPUK headline consumer inflation grew by 2.1% in April, up from March’s 1.9% but still short of the forecasted 2.2% growth. Core inflation was unchanged at 1.8%. Government borrowing printed lowest April deficit since 2007 at £5.8bn, marginally lower than figures for April last year.

GBPUK CBI industrial orders printed below expectations at -10 for May, down from -5 previously and the weakest figures since October 2016. Despite a net increase in output, the exports component also declined. On-going political concerns eroded Pound support and Dollar strength maintained the pressure with a dip to five-week...

GBPDeputy Governor of the Bank of England (BoE), Ben Broadbent stated that investment had declined throughout 2018 and that the negative trend continues. The comment and accompanying warning over Brexit uncertainty added to the already negative Pound sentiment.

GBPDomestic political risk caused yet more Pound losses on Friday morning and the Labour Party formally confirmed the closure of Brexit negotiations with the government. Labour blamed government instability for the lack of agreement and both parties expressed concerns that any deal would cause major party rifts.

GBPThe Pound suffered from further domestic political uncertainty yesterday and failed to muster support from global market trends. There were no clear signs of increased Withdrawal Act support for the next vote in June. The 1922 committee executive meeting with the Prime Minister was followed by the announcement that the...

GBPWith no tier one data releases from the UK yesterday the markets focused domestic politics and trading patterns elsewhere. An overwhelming lack of confidence Theresa May’s ability to push the Brexit Withdrawal Bill through in early June and the subsequent drop in confidence in her leadership increased pressure for a...

GBPUK unemployment dropped to 3.8% from 3.9%, a  forty-five year low, although the underlying employment increase fell below consensus forecasts at 99,000. Average earnings growth slowed to 3.2% from 3.5% in March while average earnings including bonus slowed to 3.3% from 3.4%.

GBPThe Bank of England’s (BoE) Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent maintained the party line when stating interest rate increases will be gradual. On the political front, there were no substantial developments but pressure remains for Brexit talks between the government and the Labour Party to be curtailed.