- GBP/JPY edges lower despite an expected increase in the UK inflation boosts expectations for the BoE to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday.
- UK annual headline and core CPI rose by 2.6% and 3.5%, respectively.
- The BoJ is unlikely to raise interest rates on Thursday.
The GBP/JPY pair edges lower below 195.00 in Wednesday’s European session. The cross drops after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) inflation data for November, which showed that price pressures grew in line with estimates.
As measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), UK annual headline inflation rose by 2.6%, as expected, faster than 2.3% in October. Month-on-month headline CPI grew 0.1%, in line with estimates but slower than the former release of 0.4%. The core CPI – which excludes a few volatile items – grew at a faster pace of 3.5% than the former reading of 3.3% but slower than estimates of 3.6%.
An expected growth in the UK inflation adds to evidence that the Bank of England (BoE) will leave interest rates unchanged at 4.75% in the policy meeting on Thursday. According to market expectations, eight members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) are expected to vote for keeping interest rates at their current levels. While one policymaker Swati Dhingra will vote for cutting borrowing rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.50%.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Yen (JPY) exhibits a muted price action as investors await the outcome of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy meeting on Thursday. The BoJ is expected to leave interest rates at 0.25%. Investors will pay close attention to BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s press conference to know about whether and how much the central bank will raise key borrowing rates in 2025.
Investors will also look for cues about the likely impact of incoming tariff hikes by United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump on the economy.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD defends gains near 1.0500 ahead of Fed rate call
EUR/USD defends minor bids near 1.0500 in the European session on Wednesday. The pair's further upside remains capped as traders stay cautious and refraining from placing fresh bets ahead of the Federal Reserve poicy announcements.
GBP/USD falls below 1.2700 after UK inflation data
GBP/USD remains pressured below 1.2700 in Eurpean trading on Wednesday. The data from the UK showed that the annual CPI inflation rose to 2.6% in November from 2.3%, as expected. Investors gear up for the Fed's monetary policy announcements.
Gold’s upside attempts remain limited with all eyes on the Fed
Gold is practically flat on Wednesday after bouncing up from a one-week low the previous day. The precious metal remains on the defensive as the market braces for the outcome of the last Federal Reserve’s (Fed) meeting of the year.
Bitcoin edges down ahead Fed decision
Bitcoin price edges slightly down, trading around $104,100 ahead of the US Fed decision on interest rates on Wednesday. Ki Young Ju, founder of CryptoQuant, highlights that BlackRock’s Bitcoin spot ETF nearly doubled the Asset Under Management of its Gold ETF in under a year.
Sticky UK services inflation to come lower in 2025
Services inflation is stuck at 5% and will stay around there for the next few months. But further progress, helped by more benign annual rises in index-linked prices in April, should see ‘core services’ inflation fall materially in the spring.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.