Finance

Sterling steady before Bank of England economist remarks

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 25, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 25, 2026

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Sterling steady before Bank of England economist remarks
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LONDON (Reuters) - The pound held just shy of a two-month high against the dollar on Tuesday, and was little changed against the euro in fairly calm trading as markets looked to remarks from the Bank

Pound Steady Ahead of Key Remarks from Bank of England Economist

LONDON (Reuters) - The pound held just shy of a two-month high against the dollar on Tuesday, and was little changed against the euro in fairly calm trading as markets looked to remarks from the Bank of England's chief economist.

The pound was last at $1.2632, flat on the day, having touched $1.269, its highest since mid-December, the day before.

That rise and its retreat on Tuesday were largely in line with broad moves in the dollar, which has been weakening on soft U.S. data, but received a small safe haven boost on Tuesday on President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats. [FRX/]

Against the euro, the pound was a whisker softer at 82.94 pence,, with trading little moved by the German election and conservative winner Friedrich Merz's bid to form a government.

Traders were keeping an eye on Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill, due to make closing remarks at a conference around 1400 GMT, for any policy insights.

Pill "sits on the hawkish side of the spectrum and any dovish comments can have a tangible impact on rate expectations", said analysts at ING.

Markets are currently pricing two further 25 basis point rate cuts by the Bank of England.

Pill's fellow policy maker, standout dove Swati Dhingra, on Monday challenged market interpretations that the BoE had signalled there would be one 25 basis point rate cut per quarter with its remarks that rate cuts would be "gradual".

"I think everybody has a different definition. That's not my definition, clearly," she said.

The BoE cut rates by 25 basis points this month, though Dhingra voted for a 50 bp cut.

(Reporting by Alun John; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Key Takeaways

  • The pound is stable against the dollar and euro.
  • Markets await remarks from BoE economist Huw Pill.
  • Potential impact on rate expectations from Pill's comments.
  • BoE has recently cut rates by 25 basis points.
  • Swati Dhingra challenges market interpretations of BoE's rate cut signals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current exchange rate of the pound against the dollar?
The pound was last at $1.2632, remaining flat on the day.
What remarks are traders anticipating from Huw Pill?
Traders are looking for policy insights from Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill, who is due to make closing remarks at a conference.
What impact do analysts expect from Huw Pill's comments?
Analysts at ING noted that Pill sits on the hawkish side, and any dovish comments could significantly affect rate expectations.
What rate cuts are currently being priced in by the markets?
Markets are currently pricing in two further 25 basis point rate cuts by the Bank of England.
What was the recent action taken by the Bank of England regarding interest rates?
The Bank of England cut rates by 25 basis points this month, although policy maker Swati Dhingra voted for a 50 basis point cut.

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