Pound gyrates amid new COVID-19 restrictions, BOE comments

"Service is a very important component of the UK industry and leisure and hospitality is the services sector and restrictions will mean less revenues and more pain," said Kenneth Broux, FX strategist at Societe Generale. "As a component to GDP, it also diminishes the bounce-back that we may get." The pound was flat at $1.2813 at 1240 GMT after recovering as much as 0.13% against the dollar and sliding as low as 1.2714 earlier on Tuesday, its lowest since July 23. The pound was at 92 pence against the euro.

Sterling wavered between losses and gains on Tuesday, at one point slipping to two-month lows against the dollar, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled new long-lasting restrictions to tackle a second wave of the coronavirus.

New measures, which included extending the use of face coverings, curfews on pubs, bars, and restaurants, and larger fines for rule-breakers, could be in place for six months, Johnson warned. "Service is a very important component of the UK industry and leisure and hospitality is the services sector and restrictions will mean fewer revenues and more pain," said Kenneth Broux, FX strategist at Societe Generale.

"As a component to GDP, it also diminishes the bounce-back that we may get." The pound was flat at $1.2813 at 1240 GMT after recovering as much as 0.13% against the dollar and sliding as low as 1.2714 earlier on Tuesday, its lowest since July 23.

The pound was at 92 pence against the euro. "Sterling's slide at the beginning of the European session today underpinned the concerns that the investors have for the UK economy, which is right in the middle of this," said Gavin Friend, senior FX strategist at NAB Group.

The pound recovered after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said the latest policy statement did not imply BOE would necessarily use negative interest rates, and that observers should not read too much into it. The latest weekly positioning data show a small long position in favor of the British pound, but the magnitude of the long bets is barely above zero and is far below the highs of nearly $2.8 billion in March.

However, the positioning data is at odds with signals from the derivative markets which point to more weakness for the pound. Three-month risk reversals, a ratio of calls to puts for the currency, are approaching 2020 lows. "The UK also has some pretty unique challenges with Brexit," Friend said. "If a deal is struck, sterling is going to rally hard, and if there isn't, sterling is going to be vulnerable. That's why markets are very flighty on sterling."

The British government is attempting to pass a bill through Parliament that would allow it to break its Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. Barnier is expected to visit London on Wednesday as part of continuing informal talks on Britain's exit from the bloc.

"If we get good news from Barnier in the next couple of days, then we could go back up to $1.30 but investors don't really know which way to turn until there is a bit more clarity," said Broux.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)