Eurozone recession may not be as bad as previously anticipated, demand for UK government bonds driving the GBP

Summary:

• Eurozone flash PMIs remain in the contractionary range.
• The GBP has just moved higher thanks to demand for UK government bonds.
• The value of the CAD has fallen as a result of falling oil prices.

Eurozone economy still remains in contractionary range

The market is reflecting bearish signals for this currency pair. The most recent flash PMIs for the Euro Area outperformed expectations this morning, but they are still firmly in the contractionary range. Although November's numbers were better than anticipated, the data point to the Euro Area's economy contracting by about 0.2% in Q4. A recession appears probable, but, as data provider S&P notes, the latest data provide hope that the severity of the slump may not be as severe as originally feared. The US dollar data and the most recent FOMC minutes will likely drive the pair into the weekend due to holidays in the rest of the day.

✕ EUR/USD Price Chart

GBP supported by UK government bond demand

The market is reflecting bearish signals for this currency pair. The British pound has just moved considerably higher thanks to demand for UK government bonds, and since the rest of the week will be quiet due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, gains may hold. In tandem with a strong increase in the price of UK government debt, the Pound rose sharply versus the Euro, the Dollar, and other major currencies through Wednesday and into Thursday. The cost of funding mortgages and other financial products in the UK has decreased as a result of the increase in bond prices and the associated decline in their yields across different time tenors in the bond market. Bond yields are declining, which indicates a loosening of UK financial conditions and is positive for future economic growth.

✕ EUR/GBP Price Chart

CAD weighed down by falling oil prices

The value of the Canadian Dollar has fallen as a result of falling oil prices, and one industry analyst has predicted that a planned cap on Russian oil could have a disproportionately large effect on Canada. In the last 24 hours, the Canadian Dollar has fallen 1.5% against the British Pound due to a decline in oil prices. Canadian benchmarks are impacted by the decline in global oil prices, which reduces the possibility for the country to generate foreign money. Since the Canadian Dollar and oil market dynamics frequently correlate, the GBP/CAD exchange rate may soon be dependent on changes in the energy market. This linkage previously appeared to have disappeared.

✕ GBP/CAD Price Chart

Sources: finance.yahoo.com, dailyfx.com, poundsterlinglive.com