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Currency update June 28: pound hits 19 month high

Published:  28 June, 2010

Currency update June 28: Sterling had a strong week last week as tough spending cuts announced in the emergency Budget eased fears amongst investors that the UK would suffer a debt crisis akin to Greece or Spain.

Currency rates: June 28 AM
EURO/GBP - 1.216
US$/GBP - 1.504
CHF/GBP - 1.633
CAN$/GBP - 1.557
AUS$/GBP - 1.723
ZAR/GBP - 11.369
JPY/GBP - 134.56
HKD/GBP - 11.714
NZD/GBP - 2.123
HUF/GBP - 344.80

The pound hit a 19 month high of €1.22/ £1 and held above the $1.50/ £1 level for the first time in nearly five weeks. A new trend emerged that clearly showed the Budget helped separate the UK from the rest of Europe in the eyes of investors. Normally, when European stock markets have fallen in the last few months, the pound has followed suit against the euro.

However, last week, we saw sterling hold strong in the face of faltering European markets. With little UK data out today, the focus is on the general risk trends. Many analysts feel that there is not enough positive impetus to push the pound beyond $1.50/ £1 - get in touch now to avoid missing out.

In the Euro zone, stock markets are set to rise this morning after Asian markets strengthened overnight. The rally was caused as fears eased that the US senate would draft a harsh banking regulation bill.

There had been concerns that at the meeting of the G20 leaders over the weekend, the leaders would co-ordinate some sort of global financial regulation package, but as it was the summit proved fairly inconclusive.

The general outcome seemed to be that every country had slightly different issues to contend with and as a result, the respective governments would do things their own way. European money supply data out today is expected to show a further contraction in the rate of growth. Sentiment towards the region is still poor - get in touch now for a live price.

In the USA, the focus this week is on Non-Farm payroll data (released Friday), house prices, manufacturing data and spending/ income data. An improvement in May employment and hourly earnings could mean that both income and spending data shows an improvement also.

In addition, overnight the People's Bank of China set the Chinese yuan's daily mid-point at a new post-revaluation. This revaluation has been praised by the USA as it makes US goods more competitive, however, the real motive behind the revaluation is probably to keep a lid on China's overheating economy.

Elsewhere, a report from the National Bank of New Zealand showed that consumer confidence fell in the region by the largest amount since October 2008. The reason behind the drop was falling expectations of growth in various industries.

A survey by Credit Suisse shows that many traders are forecasting an interest rate rise of 131 basis points over the next year despite this poor confidence.

* Smart Currency Exchange is a currency partner to Harpers Wine & Spirit. Harpers Wine & Spirit has teamed up with Smart to provide readers with a free bespoke currency service. If you are making or receiving international payments and are interested in talking to Smart please go to: www.SmartWineSpirits.com to get a FREE no obligation quote or to download the Smart Wine and Spirit report. Alternatively call Smart on 0207 898 0500.

* To get currency udpates direct to your email then contact Richard Siddle on

richard.siddle@william-reed.co.uk

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