• European session review: GBP appreciates ahead of speeches by UK finance minister Sunak and BoE governor Bailey

Market news

24 September 2020

European session review: GBP appreciates ahead of speeches by UK finance minister Sunak and BoE governor Bailey

TimeCountryEventPeriodPrevious valueForecastActual
07:30SwitzerlandSNB Interest Rate Decision -0.75% -0.75%
08:00EurozoneECB Economic Bulletin    
08:00GermanyIFO - Current Assessment September87.9 89.2
08:00GermanyIFO - Expectations September97.5 97.7
08:00GermanyIFO - Business ClimateSeptember92.6 93.4
10:00United KingdomCBI retail sales volume balanceSeptember-6-1011

GBP firmed against its major rivals in the European session on Thursday as investors awaited the UK's finance minister Rishi Sunak to unveil a new round of measures to bolster the country's economy, hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions to contain it. Sunak is expected to present a new wage support scheme in a speech around 10:45 GMT.

The Bank of England's (BoE) governor Andrew Bailey is also set to speak today (due at 14:00 GMT). Investors will scrutinize his remarks for clues whether the British central bank intends to cut interest rates below zero. Earlier this week, Bailey acknowledged that the BoE’s officials had looked very hard at the scope to cut rates further, including negative interest rates, but this did not imply that the Bank would necessarily use negative rates.

The pound remained supported by yesterday's statement by the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Barnier that they remained determined to strike a Brexit deal. This reignited hopes that Brussel and London could reach a trade agreement by the end of a Brexit transition period in December.
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