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Sterling Hits Three-Week High versus Dollar

LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - The pound rose to a three-week high against the dollar on Tuesday as the U.S. currency continued to slip in the wake of ​Thursday's weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report, and hit a new one-year high versus ‌the euro.

Sterling rose to $1.3401, the highest since June 17, before slipping slightly to trade at $1.338.

The dollar hit a 13-month high in late June against its major peers as traders ​increased their bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike this year.

But ​the U.S.-Iran framework agreement has pulled down oil prices sharply and ⁠Thursday's nonfarm payrolls report showed the economy added fewer jobs than expected ​in June, causing markets to reduce their wagers on rate rises and pushing ​the dollar lower again.

The pound continued to trade at a 13-month high versus the euro , with the euro zone's currency slightly lower on Tuesday at 85.41 pence.

Euro zone inflation came ​in lower than expected in June, data showed last week, causing markets ​to trim their bets on European Central Bank rate hikes.

Analysts say the pound has benefited ‌from ⁠the fall in oil prices, which surged earlier this year due to the Iran war and threatened to hit the UK economy, which is a major importer of energy with low levels of gas storage.

Likely next Prime Minister Andy ​Burnham has also committed to ​the government's fiscal ⁠rules, allaying some fears among investors that the left-leaning former mayor of Greater Manchester would ramp up spending once ​in power.

"Sterling's surprising resilience amidst recent political turmoil reflects a ​simple ⁠reality – much of the bad news has already been priced in," April LaRusse, head of investment specialists at Insight Investments, said.

"Investors have spent years positioning for UK ⁠underperformance, so ​as outcomes prove less negative than feared, ​and fundamentals begin to stabilise at the margin, the currency is finding support."

Reporting by Harry Robertson; Editing by Andrew Heavens

Source: Reuters


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