BoE Governor Andrew Bailey stressed the importance of maintaining stable interest rates to combat inflation in the UK. Given the repercussions of prior rate hikes, tightening policy conditions could potentially exacerbate inflation and further weaken the job market in the UK.
Earlier this week, currency markets adjusted their expectations for a potential rate cut from 40 basis points to 51 basis points by December 2024. Upcoming economic data releases will provide traders with greater insight into the BoE's interest rate trajectory.
The initial focus on the economic calendar will be the release of the UK's services PMI figures. Subsequently, attention will shift to US data. The consensus in the market is that the PMI data will likely remain below the 50-point threshold and have limited impact on the GBP/USD currency pair. The subsequent NFP report may introduce heightened volatility to the pair, following preliminary figures such as ADP data and unemployment claims earlier in the week.