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LONDON - The Pound Sterling gained strength following comments from the Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey, who addressed the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) on the Monetary Policy Report (MPR) today. In his remarks, Bailey pointed out a slight decrease in inflation that was not anticipated, suggesting that the year might end with inflation rates slightly below projections. This development comes amid signs of a softening labor market and wage growth that remains above the inflation target but appears to be decelerating.
Despite these observations, Governor Bailey advised against altering interest rates at this time. He underscored the necessity of vigilance due to potential upside risks. These include persistent inefficiencies within the labor market and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that could disrupt oil prices.
The markets reacted positively to Bailey's speech, with the GBP/USD exchange rate rising to 1.2540, marking a 0.30% increase. This uptick occurred even as Bailey expressed reservations about the market's tendency to focus heavily on recent data releases, which might lead to underestimating enduring inflationary pressures. He reiterated the central bank's commitment to achieving its 2% inflation target.
Investors and analysts will be closely monitoring these developments as they assess the potential impact on future monetary policy decisions by the BoE and their implications for currency valuations and economic stability in the United Kingdom.
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