Main Headlines
Demand for workers and employee turnover in the US remained at historically high levels at the end of 2021, a sign of the tightness in the labour market that has weighed on the economic recovery. A total of 4.33mn Americans quit their jobs in December, a historically elevated level, although slightly below November’s record of 4.5mn, according to data released on Tuesday by the US labour department. The rate in which employees are quitting came in at 2.9 per cent, its highest year-end reading on record. That was a slight decrease from the record levels of 3 per cent in September and November. During the pandemic American businesses have for months been contending with worker shortages, brought about by factors such as skills mismatches, childcare responsibilities, or public health guidelines. High labour demand has been one factor helping push up wages for workers, but the persistent vacancies have also posed concerns to employers still recovering from the pandemic. Some workers have capitalised on the resulting war for talent by quitting old jobs in search of better or higher-paying roles. Rising labour costs have also contributed to a broader rise in inflation and are among the reasons why the Federal Reserve has decided to wind down its stimulus programme more quickly.
Boris Johnson remained in deep trouble over the “party gate” affair on Tuesday as new revelations emerged of his attendance at lockdown parties and once-loyal Conservative MPs said he should quit. Many Tory MPs said the prime minister was on a three-month probation until local elections in May, but a constant drip of new revelations threatens to further undermine his position in the days ahead. Boris Johnson is currently under renewed pressure over lockdown parties in Downing Street, amid reports he attended more gatherings under investigation by the police. It has been reported that he was seen heading up to his flat on the night of a gathering there which the Met is investigating. The prime minister previously promised the Tory MPs at a private meeting that there would be “no new revelations.” The new reports are likely to fuel claims by opposition parties that Mr Johnson was aware of the so-called “party culture” in Downing Street and parts of Whitehall at that time. In her “update” on Monday, Sue Gray, the senior official who has been investigating the allegations, disclosed there were 12 events between 2020 and 2021 that are currently being investigated by the police. She was unable to publish her full findings because of the police inquiries.
Markets
GBP
Sterling stands strong against most major currencies overnight. Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a gun to Ukraine’s head to force a change to the architecture of European security, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, stressing he was not exaggerating Russia’s threat. Britain’s government will set out its plan to “level up” the country on Wednesday as it tries to move on from the scandal of lockdown parties in Downing Street by turning to one of the big policy pledges that put Boris Johnson there in 2019. British shoppers were hit by the biggest increase in prices charged by major retailers in more than nine years in January, according to a survey that added to signs of accelerating inflation momentum. The British Retail Consortium said on Wednesday, a day before the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates for a second time in two months, that shop prices rose by 1.5% in January compared with the same month in 2021. New UK national security legislation is threatening damaging delays to angel investment in start-ups, with even state agency Scottish Enterprise potentially forced to go through an official approval process before taking stakes in a wide range of ventures. The UK has been reported to have wasted almost £10bn on defective, unsuitable, and overpriced personal protective equipment as ministers rushed to meet unprecedented demand at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
EUR
Euro is stronger against the dollar and weaker against sterling this morning. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of trying to draw his country into a war in Ukraine. He said America’s goal was to use a confrontation as a pretext to impose more sanctions on Russia. Mr Putin also said the US was ignoring Russia’s concerns about NATO alliance forces in Europe. Britain, Poland, and Ukraine are working to strengthen their three-way cooperation in the face of the threat of a new Russian military intervention, the leaders of the two eastern European countries said in Kyiv yesterday. Investors are betting that persistently high inflation will force the European Central Bank to raise interest rates more than once this year, in a challenge to the central bank’s insistence that it expects to freeze rates at historical lows at least until next year. Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Stoere, announces intentions to scrap most of its remaining COVID-19 lockdown measures with immediate effect as a spike in coronavirus infections is unlikely to jeopardise health services. The announcement follows similar decisions by neighbouring Denmark and other European countries, which have eased or removed restrictions in recent weeks.
USD
The dollar is weakening against most major currencies in the early morning trade. Republican US lawmakers donated more than $380,000 last year to the campaigns of eight colleagues who Donald Trump is trying to drive from office, prioritizing the goal of regaining control of Congress over the former president’s desire for vengeance. At least 71 Republican members of the House of Representatives and Senate transferred money to the campaigns of seven House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection arising from last year’s Capitol riot. Republicans are trying to take over one or both chambers in the Nov. 8 congressional elections. If they do so, they could destroy Biden’s legislative agenda. A major winter storm is expected to wallop much of the central United States and stretch to parts of the Northeast this week, bringing heaving snow, freezing rain, and ice, the National Weather Service reported. The approaching blast of frigid weather, which was expected to begin arriving Tuesday night, put a long stretch of states from New Mexico to Vermont under winter storm warnings and watches. More than a foot of snow was possible in Michigan. Meanwhile, hundreds of flights have been cancelled.
Ballinger & CO. Morning Report- 02nd February 2022
Today’s Rates
GBP>EUR – 1.1985
GBP>USD – 1.3540
EUR>USD – 1.1299
GBP>CAD – 1.7172
GBP>AUD – 1.8956
GBP>SEK – 12.468
GBP>AED – 4.9725
GBP>HKD – 10.551
GBP>ZAR – 20.685
GBP>CHF – 1.2452
Today’s Calendar
· 9:00 a.m.: Spain Jan. unemployment change
· 11:00 a.m.: Euro area Jan. CPI
· 11:00 a.m.: Italy Jan. CPI EU harmonized
· 12:00 p.m.: Ireland Jan. unemployment rate
· 4:30 p.m.: EIA U.S. oil inventory report
· 5:00 p.m.: Russia Dec. industrial production
· OPEC+ meets virtually to decide production policy
Today’s Highlights
· EUR/USD Forecast: Euro could lose traction on soft EU inflation data
· Breaking: EUR/USD regains 1.1300 after Eurozone Preliminary CPI beats estimates with 5.1% YoY in January
· EUR/SEK: Krona to strengthen gradually as Riksbank normalizes policy ahead of ECB – MUFG
· GBP/USD consolidates near weekly highs above 1.3500
This document has been prepared solely for information and is not intended as an Inducement concerning the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. By its nature market analysis represents the personal view of the author and no warranty can be, or is, offered as to the accuracy of any such analysis, or that predictions provided in any such analysis will prove to be correct. Should you rely on any analysis, information or report provided as part of the Service it does so entirely at its own risk, and Frank eXchange Limited/Manor House Foreign eXchange Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage you may suffer as a result. Information and opinions have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation is made as to their accuracy. No copy of this document can be taken without prior written permission.
One Response
Good rates