On Thursday, the pound experienced a slight decline following the confirmation of the UK economy's recession in the latter half of the previous year. Concurrently, the dollar exhibited widespread strength as the month and quarter drew to a close.
Throughout the week, currency market activity has been primarily influenced by speculation surrounding potential intervention from the Bank of Japan to purchase the yen. This action comes amidst the yen's decline to its lowest level against the dollar since 1990.
The sterling has decreased by 0.2%, albeit still on track for a 0.2% increase against the dollar for the week. Investors are awaiting crucial US inflation data scheduled for release on Friday. Meanwhile, the pound has maintained stability against the euro, with the latter trading at 85.63 pence.
In addition to its decline against the dollar, the pound experienced a 0.24% drop against the yen, reaching 190.79 yen. This decline comes after the pound reached its highest level against the Japanese currency since August 2015, earlier in the week.
Thames Water Crisis Unfolds
Meanwhile, Thames Water, recognized as Britain's largest utility, faced a fresh crisis as shareholders declared their reluctance to provide further funding. This development raises concerns about the company's financial stability.
British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt reassured the public that the government would closely monitor Thames Water's situation and affirm that the company remains solvent.
Government Amidst Economic Developments
In response to economic uncertainties, the government affirmed last year its readiness to undertake various measures, including temporary state ownership, if necessary. However, Thursday's events did not directly impact the value of sterling.
I don't think it's a huge story. The move we're seeing across the board is pretty broad-based dollar strength and cable is bearing the brunt of that
Michael Brown
Michael Brown, a strategist at Pepperstone, downplayed the significance of the day's developments. He attributed the current market trends to widespread dollar strength, noting that the impact on cable is consistent with broader market movements. Brown emphasized the overall cable alignment with other currency pairs, suggesting minimal cause for concern amidst these fluctuations.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK gross domestic product contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter along with 0.3% in the fourth quarter, aligning with preliminary estimates. While these figures confirm the anticipated mild recession late last year, they did not prompt significant fluctuations in the pound or alter expectations regarding monetary policy.
Market reactions remained steady, reflecting the recession's already factored-in nature and the limited surprise of the reported numbers. Despite the economic downturn, analysts and investors maintained a cautious but stable outlook, awaiting further developments in the UK economy.
Bank of England Hints at Possible Rate Cut
Last week, the Bank of England stirred speculation about a potential interest rate cut, triggering a surge in demand for UK government bonds while exerting downward pressure on the pound.
Throughout March, two-year gilts (GB2YT=RR), known for their sensitivity to changes in rate expectations, experienced a notable d25 basis point decline. This decline marks the first monthly drop in gilts since November, signaling market sentiment shifting towards lower interest rates.
Catherine Mann, among others, has raised concerns, highlighting the discrepancy in wage growth data between the UK, the US and the EU. She argues that aligning rate cut expectations with these economies may not be appropriate given the stronger wage growth in the UK.
Echoing Mann's sentiments, Jonathan Haskel expressed reservations about the timing of rate cuts. According to reports from the Financial Times, Haskel emphasized that rate cuts should be considered "a long way off." He also cast doubt on the accuracy of headline inflation figures, suggesting they may not accurately reflect the persistence of inflationary pressures.
Mann and Haskel are among the final dissenting voices within the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), advocating for the decision to maintain the current interest rate rather than opting for a cut.
Future markets indicate a roughly 20% likelihood of the Bank of England implementing a rate cut at its upcoming May meeting. However, traders favor the June meeting as the most probable timeframe for a rate adjustment, with a 55% chance assigned to this scenario.