Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) Exchange Rate Firms as BoE Reassures Investors of UK Bank Stability
The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is firming this morning, following reassurances from the Bank of England (BoE). The central bank released a statement underlining safety in the UK’s banking sector.
At the time of writing, GBP/AUD is trading at around AU$1.8261, a rise of around 0.5% from the morning’s opening rates.
Pound (GBP) Firms as BoE Moves to Reassure Investors over UK Bank Security
The Pound (GBP) is firming this morning, as the Bank of England (BoE) moves to assure investors of security in UK banks.
Following the takeover of Credit Suisse by USB on Sunday, markets remain jittery at the prospect of further downturn in the sector.
The BoE released a statement yesterday, which read:
‘We have been engaging closely with international counterparts throughout the preparations for today’s announcements and will continue to support their implementation. The UK banking system is well capitalised and funded, and remains safe and sound.’
With this in mind, GBP investors appear to be trusting the BoE’s perception and are bringing tailwinds to Sterling.
However, these gains may be being capped by growing expectations of a rate hike pause on Thursday. Currently, markets now believe there is a 57% chance that the BoE will pause their current tightening cycle.
Between inflation-related metrics pointing to a cooldown, and the recent chaos amongst banks, the case is growing day by day.
Australian Dollar (AUD) Falls as Banking Sector Anxieties Increase
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is weakening this morning, as investor anxieties over further bank collapses keep AUD low.
With the market mood appearing mixed at best, the risk-sensitive ‘Aussie’ appears unable to gain ground. This comes despite assurances over the weekend from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor Christopher Kent.
In a speech, Kent stated:
‘Volatility in Australian financial markets has picked up but markets are still functioning and, most importantly, Australian banks are unquestionably strong – the banks’ capital and liquidity positions are well above regulatory requirements.’
However, following the UBS’ acquisition of Credit Suisse, markets are remaining skittish. With interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England on the horizon, banks could be in trouble.
Fears are increasing over a global crisis around the banking sector, keeping investors away from the ‘Aussie’ this morning.
Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) Exchange Rate Forecast: RBA Minutes to Buoy AUD?
Looking ahead for the Australian Dollar, the main driver of movement is likely to come overnight tonight. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) are due to publish their latest meeting minutes, which investors will likely scour for clues on future rate hikes.
If these minutes take a hawkish stance, the ‘Aussie’ could rally as investors bet on further tightening. However, if they take a dovish approach, AUD could weaken.
For the Pound, impactful data releases are thin on the ground. However, with the UK’s financial policies under the microscope, a fall in government borrowing could buoy GBP.
Elsewhere, the continuing fallout across banks may weigh on the pairing. Due to the ‘Aussie’ being more risk sensitive, a souring market mood could benefit GBP.