House prices up 10% in last year

This morning's Nationwide house price survey shows a 10.5% increase in prices in the year to April. This is an encouraging sign of economic growth in the UK and as such the Pound is performing relatively well this morning.

The Greek bailout continues to weigh on the Euro, although the rate for buying Euros seems to have peaked for now having increased over the last 10 days.

With the final leaders' debate before the election tonight, there could be a limited window to buy your currency before the uncertainty of the election takes over for the next 7 days.

International foreign exchange news out this week

This week is quiet in terms of UK data, but there are other releases around the world likely to affect exchange rates. Contact Currency Index for the latest news and live rates for your transfer.

Monday 26th
ECB President Trichet's speech

Tuesday 27th
0930 - UK mortgage approvals
1500 - US consumer confidence

Wednesday 28th
0230 - Australian CPI inflation
0400 - New Zealand business confidence
1915 - US interest rate decision
2200 - New Zealand interest rate decision
2345 - New Zealand trade balance

Thursday 29th
0700 - UK Nationwide house prices
1330 - US jobless claims

Friday 30th
Overnight - UK GfK consumer confidence survey
1000 - Eurozone unemployment & CPI inflation
1330 - Canadian & US GDP

More good news as sterling rises

This morning's mortgage approvals and public borrowng data came out better then expected - and even slightly worse retail sales could not dampen the Pound's momentum.

Against the Euro, US Dollar, Australian Dollar and South African Rand we have seen improvements in exchange rates for anyone sending money abroad.

Contact Currency Index for the latest commercial rates available.

Mixed figures but Pound is up

This morning's headline unemployment figure showed an increase to 8% - the highest since 1994 - but behind the figures there was a lower than expected number of UK citizens claiming unemployment benefit in March.

At the same time, average UK earnings figures were better than expected, so overall this morning there has been some support for sterling, with the mixed numbers being taken as positive overall for the UK economy.

With retail sales and public borrowing figures out tomorrow morning, today could present an opportunity for buying Euros, Dollars or whichever currency you need to send abroad, at a relatively good rate. Contact Currency Index for the latest live rates.

UK inflation rises - as does the Pound

In a data release seen as positive for sterling, UK inflation has come out higher than expected this morning, making sending money abroad slightly cheaper across the board.

The retail price index for March was up 0.7%, and up 4.4% for the year, compared with expectations of 0.4% and 4.1% respectively.

Currency news this week

This week focus for the Pound is likely to be fixed to the unfolding election news, as investors decide whether a surge in Lib Dem popularity is likely to be good for the economy.

We also have the following scheduled data releases:

Monday 19th
1000 - Eurozone construction data
1330 - Canadian foreign investments
2345 - New Zealand CPI inflation

Tuesday 20th
0230 - Australian interest rate minutes
0700 - German PPI inflation
0930 - UK CPI inflation & retail sales figures
1000 - German ZEW consumer confidence survey
1400 - Canadian interest rate decision

Wednesday 21st
0930 - Bank of England minutes, UK unemployment rate & UK earnings figures

Thursday 22nd
0715 - Swiss trade balance
0930 - UK net public borrowing
1330 - US jobless claims & PPI inflation
1500 - US house price index

Friday 23rd
0900 - German IFO business climate survey
0930 - UK Q1 GDP
1200 - Canadian CPI inflation
1330 - US durable goods orders & Canadian retail sales

Euro rate back up

Good news for anyone buying Euros - the rate is creeping back up as worried about Greece and Portugal persist in holding back the value of the single currency.

ECB President Trichet's speech yesterday was unusually strong in warning of further economic problems in the Eurozone to come, which has halted gains that the Euro was making earlier in the week.

For the latest commercial Euro exchange rates, contact Currency Index on 0800 043 2623.

Currency blog resources

For a list of other currency blogs available, please see our partner site at www.Mistercurrency.com.

Trade balance narrows

The Pound has taken some strength this morning from the UK trade balance figures, which were not as bad as expected.

February's defecit was £2.1bn, against expectations of £2.9bn. There is no further major UK data out this week.

Data out this week

A summary of data released from around the world this week likely to affect exchange rates:

Monday 12th
1315 - Canadian housing starts
1930 - US monthly budget statement

Tuesday 13th
0230 - Australian business confidence
0930 - UK trade balance
1330 - US import price index & Canadian house price index
2345 - New Zealand retail sales

Wednesday 14th
1000 - Eurozone industrial production
1330 - US CPI inflation & retail sales
1500 - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's speech

Thursday 15th
0900 - European Central Bank monthly report & trade balance
1330 - US initial jobless claims
1415 - US industrial production

Friday 16th
0815 - Swiss producer & import prices
1000 - Eurozone CPI inflation
1330 - US housing starts

Sterling higher again - best rates since Feb

This morning's PPI inflation figures have come out much higher than expected and given the Pound a further boost. Rates for buying Euros and sending US dollars are now the best they have been since February - contact Currency Index for a quote on your overseas transfer today.

Triple dose of good news boosts sterling

3 pieces of positive news have given the Pound a boost this morning:

- UK industrial and manufacturing production up more than expected
- UK house prices rose 1.1% last month, according to Halifax
- UK car sales are up 26% on last year

Dollar and Euro prices agains the Pound are now at their cheapest for over a month, with the next news scheduled being the Bank of England and ECB due to announce their monthly policy statements at lunch time today.

Pound improves as election campaign gets underway

The Pound seems to have taken some strength from the official start of the UK election campaign - with better rates across the board for transferring money overseas, compared to before Easter.

Tomorrow we have Industrial and Manufacturing figures out in the UK, as well as the Bank of England's monthly policy statement, so do keep in touch with Currency Index if you would like the latest news on exchange rates.

This week's currency news

Data due out this week which is likely to affect exchange rates:

Tuesday 6th
0530 - Australian interest rate decision
0815 - Swiss CPI inflation
1900 - US interest rate minutes

Wednesday 7th
1000 - Eurozone GDP

Thursday 8th
0230 - Australian unemployment rate
0645 - Swiss unemployment rate
0930 - UK manufacturing production
1000 - Eurozone retail sales
1100 - German industrial production
1200 - UK interest rate & quantitative easing decisions
1245 - Eurozone interest rate decision

Friday 9th
0930 - UK PPI inflation
1200 - Canadian unemployment rate