FX MARKET REPORT 20.01.2021
The sentiment around the pound remains buoyed by the upbeat UK CPI figures, with GBP/USD holding the higher ground near 1.3670 levels. The major adds 0.28% on a daily basis. The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate came in at +0.6% in December when compared to +0.3% booked in November while beating expectations of a +0.5% print. EUR/USD has been advancing after US Treasury Secretary nominee Yellen made the case for more stimulus. President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated later in the day and his first actions in office are set to boost bulls, outweighing ECB worries. The European Central Bank is set to leave rates unchanged but may warn about the higher exchange rate of the euro. Without cutting rates, any attempt by the ECB to talk down the common currency will likely be futile. However, Bloomberg reported that the ECB could launch a strategy of controlling yield spreads. While lowering returns on European debt may weigh on the euro, it would lower borrowing costs for some governments, a positive development. Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, was down 0.2% at 90.278. USD/JPY was down 0.1% at 103.75, ahead of the Bank of Japan’s latest rate-setting meeting on Thursday. AUD/USD was up 0.6% at 0.7736.