Investing.com - The pound fell to a one-month low against the
U.S. dollar on Friday, after a shock contraction in the U.K.'s
service sector in December fuelled fears that the economy slipped
back into a recession in the final quarter of 2012.
GBP/USD hit 1.6008 on Friday, the pair's lowest since December 7;
the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.6066 by close of trade,
down 1.02% for the week.
Cable is likely to find support at 1.6001, the low of December 7
and resistance at 1.6107, Friday's high.
Sterling hit session lows against the dollar after the Markit U.K.
services purchasing managers' index came in at 48.9 in December,
the lowest level since April 2009, from 50.2 the previous month,
confounding expectations for a small increase to 50.4.
Markit said the figures, along with mixed manufacturing and
construction figures earlier in the week, indicated that the U.K.
economy contracted by 0.2% in the fourth quarter.
Following the poor data economists at Citi bank warned that the
U.K. could lose its triple-A sovereign rating in 2013.
A separate report showed that U.K. mortgage approvals increased to
54,036, in November, up from 53,071 the previous month.
But the pound trimmed losses against the greenback after the
closely watched report on U.S. nonfarm payrolls indicated that the
recovery in the labor market may be moderating.
The U.S. Department of Labor said the economy added 155,000 jobs in
December, slightly higher than forecasts for an increase of
150,000, but easing from an upwardly revised increase of 161,000 in
November. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.8%.
Sterling was sharply lower against the dollar on Thursday after the
minutes of the Federal Reserve's December policy meeting showed
that some policymakers considered an earlier-than-expected end to
the bank's quantitative easing program.
The Fed's December minutes said also interest rates would remain
close to zero "at least as long" as the jobless rate remains above
6.5%.
Investors remained cautious as relief over an agreement to avoid
the U.S. fiscal cliff was offset by concerns about continuing
political wrangling over further spending cuts and raising the U.S.
debt ceiling.
In the week ahead, investors are likely to remain focused on U.S.
fiscal negotiations, while monetary policy decisions by the Bank of
England and the European Central Bank will also be in focus.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of
these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, January 7
The U.K. is to publish an industry report on house price inflation,
a leading indicator of demand in the sector.
Tuesday, January 8
The U.S. is to release private sector data on economic optimism, as
well as official data on consumer credit, which is closely linked
to consumer spending.
Wednesday, January 9
The U.K. is to release official data on the trade balance, the
difference in value between imports and exports.
The U.S. is to publish official data on crude oil inventories,
while the U.S. Treasury is to hold an auction of 10-year government
bonds.
Thursday, January 10
The BoE is to announce its benchmark interest rate, while the U.S.
is to publish the weekly government report on initial jobless
claims.
Friday, January 11
The U.K. is to produce official data on manufacturing production, a
leading indicator of economic health.
The U.S. is to round up the week with the government's report on
the trade balance, the difference in value between imports and
exports.
Investing.com -
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