GBP Faces Pressure with Inflation Rate at 4-year’s Low
Britains inflation rate dropped to the lowest since August, 2016, raising speculations that the Bank of England will have to take further measures to boost demand.To get more news about
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In addition, Britan‘s CPI grew 0.8% year-on-year, lower than economists’ expectations. The figure may kindle an even more heated debate over whether the central bank should introduce negative interest rate for the first time.
HSBC downgraded its forecast of GBP/USD before the end of the year from the previous 1.35 to 1.2, while pointing out the risks including Britains fiscal well-being(as the worst of G10 members) and Brexit: euro is expected to rise from 0.81 to 0.87 against pound before the end of the year, the British government again dismissed the possibility of extending the Brexit transitional period, while it seems unlikely for the two sides to completely settle a free trade deal before the end of 2020.
With Britain sinking into a severe recession and the economy in sluggish recovery, structural factors may further weigh on the pound.
In Europe, the hardest-hit area of the epidemic, financial measures are also being gradually promoted and implemented. European Commission President von der Lane said the EU will launch an investment plan of 37 billion euros and give member states flexibility in terms of budget deficits and state aid, and will use 1 billion euros of EU funds to provide loan guarantees of up to 8 billion euros to 100,000 companies in tourism, retail, transport and other troubled industries hit by the epidemic.
Italian Prime Minister Conte said that 25 billion euros have been prepared to deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunak said he would provide 330 billion pounds in government loans and guarantees to support the economy. French Finance Minister Lemerre announced that he would invest 45 billion euros to fight the epidemic.