Currency note 24th November 2011

Important notice: Today is Thanksgiving (a public holiday) in the USA and as a result, US dollar payments will be delayed by one day as US routing banks will be shut. Please allow an extra day if you are paying suppliers in US dollars. This may also impact other currency payments so bear this in mind.

Sterling fell to a further 6 week low against the US dollar yesterday, falling below $1.55/ £1 following steep drops in the prices of riskier currencies/ commodities. A raft of poor data from the euro zone saw investors pull back from positions in riskier positions. With sterling seen as a relatively riskier option to the US dollar, the pound has come under pressure as the European crisis intensifies. The pound wasn’t helped either by the Bank of England’s minutes that showed policymakers unanimously voting for no change to monetary policy. One positive was that sterling strengthened against the euro. Call in now to ensure you take advantage.

In the euro zone, the euro tumbled yesterday following poor demand for German bonds. Germany is seen by many as the ‘safe haven’ of the euro zone and the lacklustre bond auction yesterday may be the first signs of the markets beginning to question Germany’s ability to handle the European crisis. In addition, data showed that industrial orders and purchasing figures fell in the region, signalling an impending recession. Call in now for a price to make sure you don’t lose out.

In the USA, the US dollar strengthened to the highest level against the euro since early October as investors became more and more concerned over the impact that the European debt crisis was having on France and Germany – the region’s largest economies. Markets are becoming more and more concerned globally and as such are seeking the safe haven of US dollars. Ensure you protect yourself by speaking to one of the team today.
Elsewhere, Chinese data released yesterday showed a sharp contraction in manufacturing activity. The figures shocked many who had been relying on China to drive the global recovery forward.

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