British Pound holds losses below 1.3350 amid Middle East turmoil

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The GBP/USD pair trades with mild losses around 1.3340 during the European trading hours on Monday. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East and rising bets of a US interest rate hike provide some support to the US Dollar (USD) against the British Pound (GBP).

GBP/USD posts modest losses near 1.3340 in Monday’s early European session.
Intensified geopolitical tensions in the Middle East weigh on the British Pound.
BoE’s Bailey signaled the central bank is in "no rush" to raise interest rates.

The BBC reported on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it struck military targets in western and central Iran, hours after Iran fired a salvo of missiles at northern Israel. Iranian officials said that any attack from Israel against Lebanon or Iran would be met with a "crushing and comprehensive response.”

Additionally, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said that the Strait of Hormuz will be open but under new conditions to be set by Iran and Oman, including a transit fee, per Reuters. Escalating tensions in the Middle East could boost a safe-haven currency such as the Greenback and act as a headwind for the major pair in the near term.

The US economy posted a third straight month of strong job gains in May, with the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) rising by 172K in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. This figure followed the 179K increase (revised from 115K) and was better than the forecast of 85K. This robust jobs data has reignited expectations that the Fed may raise the interest rate later this year, lifting the USD.

On the UK’s front, Bank of England (BoE) governor Andrew Bailey delivered dovish remarks, saying that the UK central bank is in no rush to raise interest rates while the outcome of the Iran war remains uncertain and the UK’s growth rate stays weak.

Financial markets had expected the BoE to cut interest rates twice this year to 3.25%. Since the US-Iran war began, the situation has reversed, and now a rise of 25 basis points (bpd) before December is forecast, according to CNBC.

Pound Sterling FAQs

What is the Pound Sterling?

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).

How do the decisions of the Bank of England impact on the Pound Sterling?

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.

How does economic data influence the value of the Pound?

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.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Pound?

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.