The pound advanced by 2.3% against the aussie as risk appetite stumbled in the wake of weak US economic data and a steep slide in global equities.
- In the early session, Australian inflation data was revealed to be slightly below expectations, leading investors to pare bets that the Reserve Bank of Australia will decide on a hefty interest-rate hike next week.
- The consumer price index rose in the third quarter by an annual 1.3%, the smallest gain since the second quarter of 1999, after advancing 1.5% in the previous three months.
- In addition, the price of gold continued to fall in trading yesterday, finding resistance around $1030 per ounce, which dulled demand for the commodity-driven currency.
- The pound was able to reach a three-week high of 1.8290 as investors shed their risky assets yesterday, and the pound could advance further if the US GDP data, released later today, disappoints market expectations.
