Sterling maintained a solid tone against the dollar ahead of the US open on Thursday, but continued to hit resistance above the 1.2500 level. The Euro regained the 0.8500 level which helped underpin confidence with a further advance to the 0.8550 area as Sterling overall lost support with markets still wary over the risk of further medium-term losses. A slightly more defensive attitude surrounding risk appetite curbed Sterling support, although underlying selling interest above 1.2500 against the dollar was the more important factor.
Sources suggested that the government was looking to trigger Article 50 around the time of the March 9-10 EU Summit and the Brexit debate will sharpen again next week when parliament returns from recess. The latest retail sales data is due on Friday and another weak release would maintain expectations that there will be an underlying slowdown in spending as Sterling consolidated around 1.2500 against the dollar.
Fujairah For those readers who are less familiar with the Emirate states that make up the UAE, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah are the less glamorous relations of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with low-cost housing, largely immigrant labour accommodation and heavy industry rather than swanky lifestyle and up market shopping malls. With the new oil […]
Mariannes In addition to gold coins such as South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, and American Gold Eagles, from June 16 you will once again be able to buy French Mariannes. The last time France minted gold coins was mostly in the Napoleonic era and appropriately they were called Napoleons and were issued between 1803 […]
EU capital markets As we have written before, for the EUR to become a global reserve currency requires a number of pre-conditions which largely stem from the establishment of an integrated EU Capital Market. Brussels is accused of dragging its feet if not actually being obstructive so the 6 largest countries have banded together to […]