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Pound Sterling Left Reeling as Carney Pours Cold Water on May Rate Rise

- May interest rate rise now questioned by markets

- British Pound exchange rates sink sharply as markets readjust expectations

- Key support levels in GBP/EUR and GBP/USD give way, hint at further declines

Carney hits the British Pound

Image © European Central Bank, reproduced under CC licensing

Pound Sterling took a hammering after London markets closed on Thursday, April 19 after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney cooled expectations for a May interest rate rise.

Speaking to the BBC in Washington, Carney cited “mixed data” coming out of the UK economy this week saying he didn’t want to be “too focused on the precise timing” of when rates might next rise.

While an interest rate rise is likely in 2018, he clearly failed to offer the kind of hints necessary to keep a May interest rate rise alive, something markets had been certain of with financial markets pricing a 85% chance ahead of Carney's comments.

The selling of Sterling reflects the market's re-rating of such a move and also reflect how disruptive this sudden shift in communications can be for financial markets.

Pound to Euro reaction to Carney

Above: GBP/EUR exchange rate falls sharply in response to Carney comments

Carney added the UK should “prepare for a few interest rate rises over the next few years.”

“I don’t want to get too focused on the precise timing, it is more about the general path. The biggest set of economic decisions over the course of the next few years are going to be taken in the Brexit negotiations and whatever deal we end up with. And then we will adjust to the impact of those decisions in order to keep the economy on a stable path,” said Carney.

“We have had some mixed data,” Carney said following a week of below-par data releases that saw wage growth, inflation and retail sales numbers all come in below expectation.

"Overall, his tone was cautious, not resembling a central banker that is about to raise interest rates, thus disappointing Sterling-bulls looking for signals that a hike is imminent. The implied probability for a May hike fell to 44% from 67% prior to Carney’s speech, according to UK OIS," says Andreas Georgiou, Investment Analyst at trading platform XM.

We reported yesterday that Sterling was looking well supported, despite the disappointing retail sales data release; in fact the currency was at one stage the day's best-performer in the group of major currencies which we saw as a sign that the expectation for a May interest rate rise was proving to be a key support for Sterling.

"Business surveys suggest that both wage and employment growth should strengthen a little over coming months, but not to an extent that will push the MPC into a series of rate hikes this year. We still expect the MPC to raise Bank Rate by 25bp just once this year and think the Committee will wait until August to hike, due to undershooting activity and inflation data," says Samuel Tombs, an economist with Pantheon Macroeconomics.

"GBP underperformed most major currencies overnight on cautious comments from Bank of England (BoE) Governor Carney. Carney warned to “prepare for a few interest rate rises over the next few years”. However, Carney also suggested the BoE interest rate normalisation path may turn out to be very gradual because of recent mixed UK economic data and Brexit uncertainty," says Elias Haddad, an analyst with CBA.

Carney's impact on the Pound is clearly evident:

Pound to Dollar exchange rate

Above: Sterling gives significant ground back to the USD

It appears the tide might have turned for Sterling following Carney's comments with some key support levels giving way and opening the door for greater selling interest going forward.

At the time of writing the Pound-to-Euro exchange rate is at 1.1405, down from the month's high at 1.1599.

Following the moves, market strategist Robin Wilkin with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking notes the cross has accelerated lower through important support in the 1.1422 region, "adding conviction" that a high is in place at channel resistance in the 1.1580 region for a move back towards channel support in the 1.1186/1.1173 region.

A note from the Barclays trading desk says the next support for GBP/EUR comes in at 1.1350 "which had been a popular level to fade against" before the previous move higher.

The Pound-to-Dollar exchange rate is at 1.4080 and it appears a deeper and more sustained slide from this month's high at 1.4376 is underway.

"GBP has collapsed through key supports on the back of Governor Carney’s comments, adding further conviction that a peak developed in the 1.43-1.45 region for a move back towards range support in the 1.39-1.37 zone (the latter being the early March lows). A move back through 1.4170/80 is needed to alleviate immediate downside risks," says Wilkin.

"Our traders look to 1.3970 and 1.3890 as the next support levels, while rallies towards 1.4100, 1.4145 and 1.4250 are likely to meet good resistance," say Barclays.

However, it is worth remembering April tends to be a strong month for the Pound, based on seasonal quirks, and we could yet see the currency recover some lost ground over coming days. At the same time, May tends to be a rather poor month on a seasonal basis, so buying interest might be short-lived.

"We close GBP/USD long opened on positive seasonals. Trade cost 117USD pips, closed at 196USD pips. We retain medium-term bullish GBP view on positive Brexit outcomes and further policy normalisation. GBP remains undervalued.Quant signals also flagging further upside but vulnerable to isolated corrections. GBP/USD tends to under-perform in May," says Athanasios Vamvakidis, a FX Strategist with Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research.

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Saunders Won't be Swayed

In light of recent developments, market focus for the Pound soon turned from Governor Carney to fellow Bank of England MPC member Michael Saunders who deliverd a speech on the subject of monetary policy in Glasgow. The full text was released at 10:30 and can be downloaded here.

Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Michael Saunders - a proponent of higher interest rates at the Bank - has maintained his position on the need for higher rates according to the contents of his speech, which should ease some of the pressure being placed on Sterling.

Saunders notes:

  1. Slack in the UK economy is limited - sees greater capacity pressures
  2. Any tightening will be gradual, but not "glacial"
  3. The economic slowdown seen in the first quarter is questionable and may be temporary.
  4. Says the UK economy doesn't need as much stimulus as it is currently enjoying

At the last MPC meeting in March Saunders was one of two members of the Committee who voted for an immediate hike in interest rates.

"Saunders keeps all options on the table over future BoE policy normalisation paths (prudent approach). Will keep markets at 50:50 over a May rate hike. If you believe that nothing has changed this week (like we do) then GBP has tactical upside ahead of May meeting," says Viraj Patel, a currency strategist with ING Bank N.V. in London. "The point he's trying to make is that if this is a 'genuine' BoE normalisation cycle, then it won't just be constant 'one-off' moves. Expect some upward trajectory in UK rates & a steeper curve supports GBP."

Almost perfectly pricing a Carney-Saunders split are financial markets which are currently pricing the prospect of a May rate rise at 50%, making for an interesting Monetary Policy Committee event next month.

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