Pound Struggles Amid Market Turbulence, Eyes on Bank of England

The British pound rose on Friday but is still poised for a second consecutive weekly downturn against the dollar amidst global market turmoil. Speculators hold a large bullish position on sterling, but market sentiment could shift. Investors await the Bank of England meeting next week, uncertain of potential rate cuts.

The British pound experienced a slight uptick on Friday, yet remains on course for its second straight weekly decline against the U.S. dollar amidst worldwide market instability affecting higher-yielding assets. Investors are now turning their attention to next week's Bank of England meeting.

The pound, which soared to one-year highs last week above $1.31, is expected to decline by 0.5% against the dollar this week. Nevertheless, it is still set for a 1.6% gain this month and remains the top-performing G10 currency against the dollar this year, with a 1.1% increase. By contrast, the euro has dropped 1.67% against the dollar.

Recent market volatility has impacted the pound more severely than lower yielding currencies like the yen or Swiss franc. On Friday, sterling edged up by 0.14% to $1.28685. Futures traders maintain a strong bullish stance on sterling, with a net long position worth $10.77 billion, tripling since early July.

Despite speculative optimism, currency movements are unpredictable. According to IG's retail trader data, only 37.63% of traders are net-long, indicating potential further gains for the pound. However, IG warns that shifting investor sentiment could herald a downward reversal in the GBP/USD trend. The Bank of England's meeting next week poses additional uncertainty, as markets and economists are split on the likelihood of a rate cut.

The lack of recent public statements from BoE policymakers—due to pre-election rules—adds another layer of complexity for investors attempting to gauge potential rate changes. Speculation grows whether higher-than-expected service prices will be enough to prevent the central bank from cutting rates from their current 16-year high of 5.25%.

(With inputs from agencies.)