News

UK data as expected

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

This morning’s UK manufacturing data and trade balance have come out close to expectations, with no resulting effect on most exchange rates. Attention will now turn to tomorrow’s inflation report at 10.30am.

This week’s currency news 126

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

The main news for the Pound this week is likely to be Wednesday’s inflation report, which is an important economic indicator affecting decisions about interest rates and quantitative easing, and therefore the strength of sterling.

Tomorrow’s manufacturing figures will also be important, otherwise there is no other significant UK data out this week. Other important data releases around the world are listed below.

Monday 8th
0645 – Swiss unemployment rate
1315 – Canadian housing starts
1800 – Speech – Federal Reservce – Fisher

Tuesday 9th
0930 – UK industrial & manufacturing production; UK trade balance
1400 – unofficial UK GDP estimate
1730 – Speech – Bank of Canada – Carney

Wednesday 10th
1030 – UK inflation report; Speech – Bank of England – King
1330 – US & Canadian trade balance; US jobless claims

Thursday 11th
0030 – Australian unemployment rate
0900 – ECB monthly report

Friday 12th
0700 – German GDP
1000 – Eurozone GDP

Federal Reserve pumps $600bn into economy

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

The US Federal Reserve has announced an extra $600bn of Quantitative Easing to boost the ailing American economy.

The amount was slightly more than most analysts had expected, but represents a middle-of-the-road approach, which had already been priced into the US Dollar exchange rate.

US Dollar rates are still around their best since February, but there has been no sudden movement in exchange rates which could have been expected if the figure was much higher.

Anybody needing to send money to the USA might like to consider fixing a rate now on the back of current US Dollar weakness.

US Dollar cheaper ahead of Fed decision

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

Rates for sending US Dollars have improved again in the last 24 hours, ahead of tonight’s Federal Reserve decision on Quantitative Easing. Analysts are expecting more money to be pumped into the US economy, which is making the dollar cheaper.

Tonight’s decision at 6.15pm is likely to cause strong volatility in the USD rate.

This morning’s UK PMI services data showed good growth in the UK’s services sector, which has also injected some sterling strength across the board.

Australian interest rates increased

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

The Australian Dollar gained strength today, after the RBA’s decision to increase interest rates to 4.75% sparked increased demand for the Aussie currency.

If you need to make a money transfer to Australia, the next major news is overnight on Wednesday, when retail sales and trade balance figures are released. For the latest rates for Australian Dollars or any other currency, please contact us.

Economic data this week

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

This week we have interest rate decisions in the UK, Eurozone, Australia and USA. As the various policies of interest rate changes, austerity measures and quantitative easing are revealed, which are variously being touted in the US, UK and Europe, we are likely to see some volatility in exchange rates through the week.

For the latest market reactions and how your own exchange rate may be affected, contact your currency broker for a jargon-free chat.

Monday 1st
0030 – Australian house price index
0900 – Eurozone manufacturing inflation
0930 – UK manufacturing inflation
1230 – US personal consumption & expenditure
1400 – US manufacturing

Tuesday 2nd
0330 – Australian interest rate decision
0800 – UK Halifax house price index
0815 – Swiss retail sales
0930 – UK construction PMI

Wednesday 3rd
0930 – UK services PMI
1400 – US factory orders
1815 – US interest rate decision
2145 – New Zealand unemployment rate

Thursday 4th
0030 – Australian retail sales & trade balance
1000 – Eurozone PPI inflation
1200 – UK interest rate decision
1245 – Eurozone interest rate decision

Friday 5th
0030 – Australian interest rate minutes
0930 – UK PPI inflation
1000 – Eurozone retail sales
1100 – Canadian unemployment rate
1230 – US non-farm payrolls & unemployment rate

Currency Index in the news

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

To see our interviews on the One Show, Sky News and Five News, regarding rogue traders Crown Currency Exchange and better regulation in the currency industry, please click here to view our YouTube channel.

Nationwide says house prices are falling

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

Nationwide this morning unveiled its report gauging housing prices in the UK with a worrying downward trend. The monthly comparison of prices showed a 0.7% decline coming after a no-change result last month and plummeting past the forecasted fall at 0.3%.

The official release deals with the potential consequences of the drops in price: “If the recent trend in house prices were to continue through November and December, the annual rate of house price inflation would drop to between 0% and -1% by the end of 2010. This would compare to a rate of +5.9% at the end of 2009.”

Falling house prices are a worry for the economy as a whole, and tend to cause a fall in sterling. The Pound has dropped around 0.5c against the Euro and US Dollar this morning.

Pound boosted by GDP figures

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

This morning’s Q3 GDP figures showed that the economy grew more than expected from July to September, showing a 0.8% growth rather than the 0.4% expected by analysts.

This reduced the likelihood of futher Quantitative Easing (QE) next month, and the Pound has spiked up nearly a cent against the Euro and US Dollar on the back of the figures.

This week’s economic data releases

28 July, 2011

CurrencyIndex

As we near the end of October, this week’s economic data releases are as follows. For the Pound, Tuesday’s GDP figure is the most important, as we learn how much the economy looks to have grown from July to September.

Monday 25th
1000 – Eurozone industrial orders
1500 – US home sales

Tuesday 26th
0930 – UK GDP
1500 – US consumer confidence

Wednesday 27th
0230 – Australian CPI inflation
1500 – US new home sales
2100 – New Zealand interest rate decision

Thursday 28th
0855 – German unemployment rate
1000 – Eurozone economic confidence
1330 – US jobless claims

Friday 29th
0700 – German retail sales
0930 – UK mortgage approvals
1000 – Eurozone unemployment rate
1330 – Canadian GDP