💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

FOREX-Sterling and euro firm ahead of Brexit vote

Published 22/06/2016, 06:24 pm
© Reuters.  FOREX-Sterling and euro firm ahead of Brexit vote
USD/JPY
-
BNPP
-
DX
-

* Sterling rises but moves choppy as Brexit vote looms

* Euro also up a third of a percent vs dollar

* Dollar index lower after Yellen sounds downbeat on jobs

By Patrick Graham

LONDON, June 22 (Reuters) - Sterling and the euro inched higher on the last day of campaigning before Britain's referendum on EU membership, the pound trading just off its highest this year after a swing in polls towards the "In" camp this week.

Most analysts still see the vote as too close to call and the mood remains shaky among financial investors worried that Britain's departure from the 28-country bloc could derail growth and spell trouble for banks and a raft of global asset markets.

Still, a swing in bookmakers' odds towards the "Remain" camp since the shooting of British lawmaker last week has helped sterling recover 5 percent from lows around $1.40.

"We're really just seeing the tail end of the rally we saw from the start of this week," said Stephen Gallo, head of European FX Strategy with BMO in London.

"There is a bit of nervousness in markets. (But) the bookmakers have been right ahead of all of these votes that have been key for markets over the past few years and the polls have not swung back (towards a Brexit) this week."

Sterling, which some banks have said could fall below $1.30 on a vote to leave, traded at $1.4680, up 0.2 percent from the close in New York but around a cent below Tuesday's high of $1.4788.

While the Brexit vote continues to dominate minds, testimony by U.S. Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen on Tuesday was read by some as playing down the chances of a rise in U.S. interest rates in July.

The dollar fell around 0.4 percent to 104.42 yen JPY= and was 0.2 percent lower against the basket of currencies that measures its broader strength.

Gallo said he thought the Fed would still be able to raise rates in July if Britain voted to stay in the European Union, and U.S. jobs data shows another bounce this month from a shockingly poor reading for May.

Others are not convinced. U.S. interest rate markets price in just a 12 percent chance of a rise in official borrowing costs next month, according to the CME Fedwatch indicator.

"The Fed has moved away from a posture of preparing to deliver an additional hike to one of patience," currency analysts from French bank BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) said in a note.

"We think the dollar does remain vulnerable with the Fed definitively on hold over the summer."

Yellen highlighted the risks of Brexit, noting it could have "significant economic repercussions". In a similarly guarded tone, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the ECB stood ready to act with all instruments, if necessary. comments came as Swiss investment bank UBS warned its clients it may fail to execute some orders on its electronic trading platform should the referendum affect liquidity or cause extreme volatility. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Alison Williams)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.