So, there are all these stories about people from the UK going crazy, shopping for bargain priced goods in the U.S., eating at 'inexpensive' New York restaurants, and buying two for one plasma screen TVs and iPods. Yayyyy! Go Federal Reserve! Go Ben Bernanke! Go Hank Paulson! Keep destroying our dollar!!! Sell the country after deflating the dollar to peso-like levels (sorry, Mexico, you're right to take offense - the peso is doing better then the USD) Yayyyy!!!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6566715.stm Pound reaches 26-year dollar high Sterling has risen to its highest level against the dollar since 1981, breaking through the $2.010 mark. The currency rose above $2 on Tuesday after unexpectedly high UK inflation figures indicated further interest rate rises were likely. The Bank of England is widely expected to raise rates to 5.5% on 10 May and at least once more later in the year. The dollar, which later eased back to $2.005 against sterling, also slid to a two-year low against the euro. Inflationary threats The pound was strengthened further by the release of the minutes of the Bank of England's last interest rate meeting at which two of nine members voted for an immediate rate rise. Official figures also showed that average earnings rose at an annual rate of 4.6% over the three months to February, which is the fastest rate for almost three years. The Bank of England is concerned that the current rate of inflation will encourage workers to press for higher wage settlements, which would create more inflation. The Office for National Statistics pointed out that the rise in average earnings came entirely from bonuses, but those can still be inflationary. 'Most pronounced' The Dow Jones index fell in early trading, reflecting broader concerns about a slowdown in the US economy. Analysts said economic uncertainty and the fact that interest rates may have to come down to safeguard growth were behind the dollar's weakness. "Sterling's rise above $2 is a consequence of both sterling strength and dollar weakness," said Howard Archer, an economist at Global Insight. David Watt, a foreign exchange strategist at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto, said the latest movements represented a "very broad move" against the dollar. "The paradigm is shifting, with investors now seeing Europe as a main engine for growth, with higher rates, and in turn they are shunning the dollar," he added. Higher interest rates increase demand for a currency as investors look to buy into assets that offer higher yields. "The negative dollar sentiment right now is related to the US economy's potential for further slowdown and therefore rate cuts from the Fed," said David Powell, senior currency strategist, at IDEAglobal. "We do expect the US to return to trend growth toward the end of the year," he added. "But in the meantime, we could be in for a period of sustained dollar weakness and we expect that to be most pronounced against the euro and sterling in the coming days and weeks." The dollar also slid to 17-year low against the Australian dollar, worth 1.200 Australian dollars.
Do you guys have a good place for 50 year chart on currencies? Tradestation only give me 10 years (may be im doing something wrong).
Bloomberg! Maybe mini meat can post a chart, I use delayed charts and have a 56K connection with netzero.
It takes a few minutes sometimes, but I am not in a rush. I sent an order, made a pot of coffee with fresh ground beans, and I was filled when I returned. Why are you all in such a hurry? el surdo
Agree, COT is way over balanced. Let the Brits come buy everything here. I think it's great! Spend spend spend!
The funny thing is the less astute among us believe the US gov has had no play in this move...and that they would let it get ugly. Trade imbalance says what?