© Reuters.
Investing.com – The pound sterling was down on Friday, the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit continuing to put pressure on the economy.
The retail sales in the uk have fallen for the first time since march, suggesting that consumers are becoming more cautious approach to Brexit.
The GBP / USD declined 0.34% to 1,2938 to 04h48 ET (09h48 GMT), while the EUR / GBP rose 0.40% to 0,8805.
The agreement of the First minister Theresa May on the Brexit was rejected on Tuesday in Parliament, but she then won a vote of confidence that helped to dispel some of the political uncertainties. Analysts have interpreted the events of this week as a reduction in the risk that the country did not reach an agreement with the european Union before leaving the block on the 29th of march. This has boosted the pound by more than 2.6% against the dollar since January 2.
The u.s. dollar was little changed, as investors wait for further progress in the trade negotiations between the United States and China.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the us Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, is conducive to the easing of tariffs on imports from China, which has boosted u.s. stocks and the dollar, despite the denial of the department of the Treasury.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six major currencies, rose 0.07% to 95,782.
The yen, usually sought by investors as a safe haven in times of economic stress or market, was down against the dollar, with USD / JPY rising 0.32% to 109,56.
Elsewhere, the euro was steady at 1.1392.
Australian dollars and new zealanders are sensitive to the risk were lower, with AUD / USD down 0.13% to 0,7179 and NZD / USD down 0.16% to 0,6750.