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Pound falls as inflation holds steady | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The pound fell against other major currencies after weaker-than-expected inflation data was seen as reducing the prospect of an early rise in UK interest rates. | |
CPI inflation remained unchanged at 2.6% last month, whereas analysts had expected the rate to climb to 2.7%. | |
The data led to speculation that inflation could have peaked already. | |
The pound fell below the $1.29 mark against the dollar, dropping nearly a cent to $1.2875. | |
Against the euro, sterling fell 0.4% to 1.0964 euros. | |
"The expected pickup didn't happen. Inflation remains cooler and the pound dipped as investors had expected a rebound in July following the surprise drop in June," said Neil Wilson at ETX Capital. | |
"It certainly cements the belief that a rate hike this year now looks highly unlikely. The market was positioned for a bit more inflation than we're getting. | |
"CPI is still expected to peak at 3% later this year before easing back, yet there are signs that inflation may have already peaked." | |
As the pound fell, shares rose, with the FTSE 100 index up 40.71 points at 7,394.60 by midday. A fall in the pound often benefits the FTSE 100 as it means overseas earnings for companies listed on the index are worth more when they are converted back into sterling. | |
However, shares in Next fell 4.3% after Berenberg cut its rating on the High Street fashion chain to "sell" from "hold". |