Rishi Patel, analyst at FairFX.com, commenting on the MPC’s latest decision to boost the UK’s quantitative easing programme, said, “The Bank of England has raised the bond purchase plan by £25 billion to £200 billion. Sterling has spiked on the news from 1.65 to 1.66 against the US dollar and against the Euro, we’ve seen a similar move from 1.1110 to 1.1180. This is contrary to most analysts’ expectations, who were expecting a more substantial increase of £50 billion to the programme and is now the third increase since March – however, this represents a decrease in the rate at which the bank has been injecting money into the economy.

“Policymakers are desperately trying to revive the economy through quantitative easing - the fundamental concern is if an increase of £25 billion will be sufficient. As expected, benchmark interest rates have been held at a record low of 0.5% and against the major currencies, Sterling is continuing to hold firm at higher levels.”

FairFX.com is an internet based foreign exchange business with a technology platform that allows it to provide UK travellers with the best foreign exchange rates in the market.

Friday 06 November 2009, 04:02pm

Tags: bank of england, monetary policy committee, mpc, qe, quantitative easing

Rishi Patel, Head of FX trading at FairFX.com, commenting today, said, “The Global equity sell off has prompted safe haven buying in currency markets. The US dollar rally has kept the pressure on the Euro and Sterling and investors will be taking a cautious stance ahead of the major central bank meetings. This morning the pound failed to find any real direction, and there is still some ambiguity as to whether the Bank of England will expand the quantitative easing programme and if so, how far?

"This week is likely to set the scene for where financial markets will finish the year as traders await key decisions from the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. Although markets are not currently expecting a change in base rate by the Federal Reserve, all eyes are watching as traders begin to speculate on the direction of monetary policy.

"If the markets stay cautious we would expect the dollar to appreciate as the ‘safe haven’ currency of choice. And in the UK we could see pressure firmly back on Sterling if the widely debated extension to the Asset Purchase Facility is significant."

FairFX.com is an internet based foreign exchange business with a technology platform that allows it to provide UK travellers with the best foreign exchange rates in the market.

Tuesday 03 November 2009, 10:05am

Tags: bank of england, euro, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, pound, sterling, us dollar