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Sterling steady after upbeat UK services sector data
Sep 6, 2024 12:07 PM

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Sterling held steady on Wednesday

after a survey showed Britain's services activity grew last

month at the fastest pace since April, adding to signs of

momentum in the economy.

The pound was flat at $1.3115, hovering near a

two-week low touched in the prior session. The currency has

eased somewhat after a stunning rally in August that pushed it

to its strongest level in more than two years.

The S&P Global UK Services Purchasing Managers Index rose in

August to 53.7 from 52.5 in July, above a preliminary estimate

of 53.3.

The survey, which also pointed to easing price pressures,

followed a poor reading on U.S. manufacturing activity which

knocked global stocks lower ahead of monthly U.S. payrolls data

on Friday.

Traders are pricing in just over 100 basis points of

interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve by the end of the

year, and about 39 bps, or at least one more cut, from the Bank

of England this year.

Britain's central bank cut borrowing costs last month for

the first time since March 2020, to 5.0% from a 16-year high of

5.25%.

"We think sterling can grind higher but with greater unwind

risk because of how stretched positioning is," said Alex Jekov,

head of G10 FX strategy at BNP Paribas.

The euro edged up against the pound at 84.275

pence, rising for a fourth consecutive day after having hit a

one-month low late last week.

HCOB's composite PMI for the euro zone, compiled by S&P

Global and seen as a good gauge of overall economic health,

jumped to 51.0 in August from July's 50.2.

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