Sterling drops as British firms suffer record slump

[LONDON] Sterling fell 1 per cent on Friday after a record slump among Britain's services and manufacturing firms deepened in late March as businesses and households paused activity to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The final composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) covering the two sectors fell to 36.0 from a preliminary flash reading of 37.1, and 53.0 in February, data firm IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply said.

"The historically low reading in composite PMI could weigh heavily on sterling in the short-term," said Sam Cooper, vice-president of market risk solutions at Silicon Valley Bank.

"However (it) is unlikely to have a long term impact if the same weakness is observed globally," said Mr Cooper. "The pound's rollercoaster ride against the (US) dollar is likely to continue as the global pandemic and central bank stimulus measures continue to drive direction."

Sterling was last down 1 per cent at US$1.2263, its weakest level since Tuesday. Against the euro, it fell 0.4 per cent to 87.95 pence.

As Covid-19 spreads around the world, claiming more victims and effectively shutting down many cities, the pound sunk to its weakest in decades last month as investors turned to less risky currencies, such as the US dollar.

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It has recovered some ground since then as the British government and Bank of England stepped in to provide stimulus to the economy and avoid a collapse in the labour market.

Ulas Akincilar, head of trading at online platform INFINOX, said there were "two modest silver linings" from the dismal PMI numbers: a fall in cost inflation and the mitigation of job losses as companies opt to furlough staff rather than lay them off.

This offers "scant comfort", he added.

REUTERS