© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: British Pound Sterling banknotes are seen in a box at the Money Service Austria company’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File photo
LONDON (Reuters) – Sterling hovered close to a one-month high versus the dollar on Friday and was on course for its strongest week since December ahead of a Bank of England meeting next week.
A drop in COVID-19 cases, although they are still high, and the reopening of the British economy have fuelled a rebound in the pound – it has added around 3% in less than a fortnight to hit close to $1.40.
Broad dollar weakness, which was exacerbated by a dovish Federal Reserve meeting this week, has also helped sterling.
By 0745 GMT on Friday, the pound was marginally higher at $1.3965, slightly below the one-month high of $1.3982 reached on Thursday.
The pound has gained 1.6% against the dollar this week – making it one of the top performing major currencies.
Against the euro, sterling was a little weaker at 85.18 pence, although it remains close to its strongest level versus the single currency since early April.
The BoE, which meets on Thursday, is expected to keep its foot firmly pressed on the stimulus pedal. But there is growing discussion about the need to begin tapering its bond-buying programme as the economy recovers. Two BoE policymakers have expressed such a view recently.
“Markets appear to be rebuilding some GBP long positions ahead of next week’s Bank of England meeting, with sentiment on the currency that has recently been buoyed by a contraction in COVID-19 cases in the UK despite most restrictions having now been lifted,” ING analysts said in a research note.
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