British Pound Rally Could Falter As Economic Outlook Deteriorates

Fundamental Forecast for British Pound: Neutral

- Mortgage Approvals By Major U.K. Banks Expand Less-Than-Expected
- Public Sector Borrowing Rises At Record Pace in August
- BoE Votes 8-1 to Maintain Current Policy, Andrew Sentance Dissents

The British Pound advanced to a fresh monthly high of 1.5815 on Friday and the exchange rate may continue to trend higher going into October as it breaks out of a narrow range. The GBP/USD cleared the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement from the 2009 low to high around 1.5700, and the pound-dollar may work its way back towards 1.6000 as it pares the decline from August. However, as the economic docket is expected to reinforce a weakening outlook for the region, the developments could curtail the recent strength in the sterling as investors weigh the prospects for a sustainable recovery in the U.K.

The final 2Q GDP reading for the U.K. is expected to show the economy expanding at an annualized rate of 1.7%, while total business investments is projected to contract 1.6% from the first three-months of the year. In addition, separate reports by the Bank of England are anticipated to show a GBP 2.9B decline in housing equity withdrawals, while mortgage approvals are forecasted to increase 47.0K in August after expanding 48.7K in the previous month. The data could spark a bearish reaction in the British Pound as growth prospects deteriorate, and an unexpectedly downward revision in the growth report or a smaller-than-anticipated rise in mortgage lending could stoke a reversal in the GBP/USD. If we see a retracement unfold over the following week, we would expect an initial test of the 38.2% Fib at 1.5700, but a sharp decline could lead the exchange rate to fall back towards the lower bound of its recent range around 1.5300.

Nevertheless, members of the BoE may change their tone towards future policy as inflation continues to hold above the government’s 3% limit for inflation, and hawkish comments from U.K. policy makers could stoke a rise in interest rate expectations over the coming months. MPC board member Andrew Sentence argued the central bank should gradually normalize monetary policy “soon” as the recovery takes hold, while his former colleague Kate Barker said the scope to increase quantitative easing looks “less certain” given the stickiness price growth. As the risks for inflation become an increased concern, members of the MPC may heed to Mr. Sentence’s call in order to give the central bank increased flexibility in managing monetary policy over the medium-term.