Today's Key Points
- Sterling has been remarkably steady since Wednesday 24th June — GBP/EUR held a tight 1.152–1.160 range and GBP/USD stayed close to 1.32 throughout the period.
- EUR/USD recovered modestly from lows around 1.138 recorded on 24 June, now trading near 1.1405.
- Today's UK lending data came in softer than expected — Mortgage Approvals at 56.21K versus a forecast closer to 63–66K — adding mild downside pressure on sterling.
- BoE MPC Member Pill spoke this morning; ECB President Lagarde is scheduled for later today.
- Political backdrop includes Andy Burnham's speech today outlining his economic vision and devolution plans, which markets are monitoring for any UK policy signals.
- GBP/EUR 1.1595 (0.8628) | GBP/USD 1.3210 | EUR/USD 1.1405.
- Big week ahead: UK GDP Tuesday, EU CPI and US ADP Wednesday, US Nonfarm Payrolls Thursday, UK PMIs Friday.
Market Overview
Since Wednesday 24 June, major currency pairs have traded in a low-volatility, range-bound fashion. Sterling showed resilience against both the euro and dollar, supported by steady underlying conditions and limited surprises from European data. EUR/USD saw a gentle recovery from session lows near 1.138, reflecting a mild rebalancing of dollar positioning heading into month-end.
Today's UK money and credit data introduced a softening note — Mortgage Approvals came in meaningfully below expectations, suggesting the higher-rate environment is still filtering through to housing market activity. European inflation prints through the week were broadly in line, and central bank speakers added to the background noise without changing the overall narrative. BoE's Pill this morning and ECB President Lagarde later today are the next voices to watch.
Looking ahead, the calendar accelerates sharply this week. Tuesday's preliminary UK GDP figures are the first major domestic test, followed by EU CPI and US employment data that will shape expectations for the Bank of England and Federal Reserve into the second half of the year.
GBP/EUR Analysis
GBP/EUR: 1.1595 (0.8628)
Since 24 Jun: Range ~1.152–1.160 | Net move: minimal | Volatility: Low (~0.35% over the period)
- Sterling held its ground against the euro throughout the period despite today's softer UK lending figures, suggesting the pound has solid underlying support near current levels.
- European data — including Spanish CPI landing in line — offered the euro little fresh impetus to push back against sterling.
- Today's Burnham speech on devolution and economic vision adds a domestic political note; markets are watching for any signals that could affect fiscal or monetary policy expectations.
- Tuesday's preliminary UK GDP is the next major test — a beat would support sterling, while a miss could pressure the pair toward the lower end of its recent range.
What this means in plain terms: GBP/EUR tells you how many euros each pound buys. At 1.1595, every £100,000 converts to around €115,950. The fact that this rate has barely moved since last Wednesday tells you the market hasn't had a strong enough reason to push it decisively in either direction. Tuesday's UK GDP reading will be the first real test — it measures how fast the UK economy grew in the first quarter, and a surprise in either direction tends to move sterling. If you are planning to convert a large sum and are watching for the right moment, this is a week to stay close to the market. Wednesday's EU inflation figures also matter: softer eurozone inflation would reduce pressure on the ECB to keep rates high, which could weaken the euro and push GBP/EUR higher.
GBP/USD Analysis
GBP/USD: 1.3210
Since 24 Jun: Range ~1.316–1.323 | Net move: modest | Volatility: Low (~0.54% over the period)
- The pound held its position against the dollar across the period, despite a broadly firm dollar tone in wider markets.
- Today's softer UK Mortgage Approvals added a touch of downside pressure, but Cable found support near the lower end of its recent range.
- No major UK political developments caused sharp moves; markets stayed focused on the data calendar rather than headlines.
- Thursday's US Nonfarm Payrolls — the most closely watched monthly jobs report — alongside Tuesday's UK GDP are the two events most likely to break the current range.
What this means in plain terms: GBP/USD — known as Cable — measures how many US dollars a pound buys. At 1.3210, a pound buys just over $1.32. This pair has been quietly holding its ground, which reflects a broadly balanced picture: the UK hasn't had any bad enough data to weaken sterling, and the US hasn't had any strong enough data to push the dollar sharply higher. That balance is unlikely to hold through the rest of this week. Thursday's US Nonfarm Payrolls report — the monthly measure of how many new jobs were created in the US — is the single biggest event. A much stronger-than-expected number would boost the dollar and likely push Cable lower; a disappointment would have the opposite effect.
EUR/USD Analysis
EUR/USD: 1.1405
Since 24 Jun: Recovered from ~1.138 lows | Net move: slight gain | Volatility: Low (~0.22% range)
- The euro has edged slightly higher since Wednesday's lows, supported by month-end currency rebalancing flows rather than any major data shift.
- GBP pairs have held steadier than EUR/USD, reflecting the euro's slightly softer footing relative to both the pound and dollar.
- Lagarde's speech later today could shift sentiment if she signals any change in the ECB's thinking on future rate moves.
- Wednesday's EU CPI flash estimate is the key data point this week — it will show how quickly Eurozone inflation is cooling, which directly shapes ECB rate expectations.
What this means in plain terms: EUR/USD is the world's most traded currency pair and tells you how many US dollars one euro buys. When EUR/USD rises, the euro is strengthening against the dollar; when it falls, the dollar is gaining. Right now it's sitting just above last week's low, having recovered slightly — but without a strong catalyst to push it meaningfully higher. The most important event for this pair this week is Wednesday's EU CPI (inflation) release. If inflation in the eurozone is falling faster than expected, it would suggest the ECB may be done raising rates sooner — which would typically weaken the euro. If inflation stays stubbornly high, the euro could find support. For anyone managing exposure across both euros and dollars, this Wednesday print is the one to watch.
Weekly Economic Calendar
| Date |
Time (GMT/BST) |
Currency |
Event |
Actual / Expected |
Prior |
Imp. |
| Mon 29 Jun |
07:00 |
GBP |
BoE MPC Member Pill Speaks |
- |
- |
★★ |
| Mon 29 Jun |
09:30 |
GBP |
Mortgage Approvals (May) |
56.21K / ~63.00K |
65.94K |
★★ |
| Mon 29 Jun |
09:00 |
EUR |
EU Business & Consumer Survey (Jun) |
- |
- |
★★ |
| Mon 29 Jun |
19:30 |
EUR |
ECB President Lagarde Speaks |
- |
- |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
02:30 |
CNY |
Manufacturing PMI (Jun) |
50.2 / 50.0 |
50.0 |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
07:00 |
GBP |
GDP (QoQ) (Q1) |
0.8% / 0.2% |
0.2% |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
07:00 |
GBP |
GDP (YoY) (Q1) |
1.1% / 1.0% |
1.0% |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
13:00 |
EUR |
German CPI (MoM) Prelim (Jun) |
0.1% / -0.2% |
-0.2% |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
15:00 |
USD |
JOLTS Job Openings (May) |
7.280M / 7.618M |
7.618M |
★★★ |
| Tue 30 Jun |
15:00 |
USD |
CB Consumer Confidence (Jun) |
94.2 / 93.1 |
93.1 |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
All Day |
CAD / HKD |
Canada Day & HK SAR Establishment Day (Holidays) |
Holiday |
- |
- |
| Wed 1 Jul |
09:30 |
GBP |
Manufacturing PMI (Jun) |
- / 53.1 |
53.1 |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
10:00 |
EUR |
CPI (YoY) Flash (Jun) |
- / 3.0% |
3.2% |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
13:15 |
USD |
ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (Jun) |
- / 118K |
122K |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
14:00 |
GBP |
BoE Governor Bailey Speaks |
- |
- |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
14:45 |
USD |
Flash Manufacturing PMI (Jun) |
- / 55.7 |
55.7 |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
15:00 |
USD |
ISM Manufacturing PMI (Jun) |
- / 53.7 |
54.0 |
★★★ |
| Wed 1 Jul |
15:30 |
USD |
Crude Oil Inventories |
- / - |
-6.088M |
★★★ |
| Thu 2 Jul |
13:30 |
USD |
Nonfarm Payrolls (Jun) |
- / 114K |
172K |
★★★ |
| Thu 2 Jul |
13:30 |
USD |
Unemployment Rate (Jun) |
- / 4.3% |
4.3% |
★★★ |
| Thu 2 Jul |
13:30 |
USD |
Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Jun) |
- / 0.3% |
0.3% |
★★★ |
| Thu 2 Jul |
13:30 |
USD |
Initial Jobless Claims |
- / 220K |
215K |
★★★ |
| Fri 3 Jul |
All Day |
USD |
US Independence Day (Holiday — Markets Closed) |
Holiday |
- |
- |
| Fri 3 Jul |
09:30 |
GBP |
Composite PMI (Jun) |
- / 49.4 |
49.4 |
★★★ |
| Fri 3 Jul |
09:30 |
GBP |
Services PMI (Jun) |
- / 48.7 |
48.7 |
★★★ |
| Fri 3 Jul |
16:00 |
GBP |
BoE Governor Bailey Speaks |
- |
- |
★★★ |
Conclusion
The stretch since 24 June has been a period of calm before the storm — sterling held steady, volatility stayed low, and markets waited patiently for something significant enough to break the range. That test arrives this week in force. Tuesday's UK GDP figures will set the tone for domestic sentiment, Wednesday brings EU inflation and US employment data, and Thursday delivers the month's Nonfarm Payrolls report — arguably the most market-moving release in the global economic calendar. With US markets closed on Friday for Independence Day, Thursday becomes a particularly pivotal session. The remainder of the week will almost certainly be more eventful than the last few days.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
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