EUR/GBP Extends Gains Near 0.8720 Ahead of German Data"EUR/GBP has continued its upward trend for the second consecutive day, trading near the 0.8720 level in early European trading on Monday. The currency pair received support ahead of significant economic data releases from Germany.
However, preliminary Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for Germany is expected to show a 0.3% decline for the quarter, with a 0.7% year-on-year decrease, compared to a 0.2% decline in the previous report. Additionally, initial forecasts for the Consumer Price Index (MoM) indicate a decrease of 0.2%, down from the previous 0.3%. Furthermore, the Euro weakened following the European Central Bank's (ECB) decision to maintain the deposit interest rate at 4.0%, reflecting concerns about the deteriorating economic outlook in the Eurozone.
ECB President Christine Lagarde is navigating a delicate balance, steering the central bank through a challenging economic landscape. Maneuvering between a weakening economy and strong inflationary pressures is no easy task. With the increasing complexity of monitoring the Middle East crisis, relying solely on data seems unwise.
On the other hand, the British Pound (GBP) may face challenges as traders adopt a cautious stance ahead of the Bank of England's (BoE) policy meeting scheduled for Thursday. Many predictions suggest that the central bank will maintain its current interest rate at a 15-year high of 5.25% due to growing concerns about economic recession.
The UK economy is feeling the strain due to high-interest rates, adding to the challenges posed by persistent inflation. Economic data indicates significant declines in various sectors, coupled with high inflation, putting additional pressure on household budgets.
