Welcome to the Pure FX account of the latest changes in the euro exchange rate, covering the 14th to 21st September 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to movements in the euro this week, to put you in the best position when you exchange currencies. Exchange rate changes GBPEUR: 1.2415 to 1.2511 (+0.773%) GBPUSD: 1.6198 to 1.6252 (+0.333%) EURUSD: 1.3048 to 1.2987 (-0.468%) So the euro’s run of good luck comes to an end! The common currency lost out against the pound and US dollar for the first time since mid-July this week, as faltering economic conditions point to recession in the Eurozone, and Spain keeps the markets guessing about whether it intends to tap the European … [Read more...] about Euro good luck streak ends as Eurozone data points to recession
eurozone crisis
Exchange rates in holding pattern as markets await central bank action
Welcome to my weekly account of what’s affected the euro exchange rate, covering the 10th to 17th August 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to the latest movements in the euro, to help you plan the best time for you to change currencies. Exchange Rate Changes GBPEUR: 1.2707 to 1.2717. No big change since broke 1.26 about 4-5 weeks ago. GBPUSD: 1.5621 to 1.5712. But fell from 1.62 in May and since then hovering. EURUSD: 1.2289 to 1.2355. Hovering at about this point for about 4-5 weeks. What’s Affected The Rate This Week The exchange rates sit more or less unchanged this week, with the euro moving less than a cent against the pound and US dollar. And in fact, if you look back, … [Read more...] about Exchange rates in holding pattern as markets await central bank action
Spain’s reluctance to request aid weighs on the euro
Welcome to my weekly account of what’s affected the euro exchange rate, covering the 3rd to 10th August 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to the latest movements in the euro, to help you plan the best time for you to change currencies. How The Rates Have Changed Pound to euro: 1.2615 to 1.2707 (+0.729%) US dollar to euro: 0.8079 to 0.8151 (+0.891%) What’s affected rates this week The euro has fallen against both the pound and US dollar this week, chiefly because of a figurative game of chicken between Spain and the European Central Bank. The ECB said this week it was prepared to directly intervene in the financial markets to reduce Spain’s borrowing costs. Given that these … [Read more...] about Spain’s reluctance to request aid weighs on the euro
Euro slides as ECB disappoints
Welcome to my account of what’s affected the euro exchange rate this week, covering the 27th July to 3rd August 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to the latest movements in the euro, to help you decide the best time for you to change currencies. Rate changes this week: Euro to pound: 0.7828 to 0.7851 (+0.294%) US dollar to pound: 0.6359 to 0.6434 (+1.179%) US dollar to euro: 0.8123 to 0.8215 (+1.133%) What’s affected the euro exchange rate this week? 1. The European Central Bank shoots and misses. As we can see here, the US dollar was the comeback kid this week, stealing more than 1.0% each from the pound and euro. What explains this revival in the buck fortunes? Well, it … [Read more...] about Euro slides as ECB disappoints
Euro climbs as ECB’s Draghi vows to do “whatever it takes”
Welcome to my weekly account of changes in the foreign exchange rate, covering the 20th to 27th July 2012. This is intended as a brief guide to what’s affected the euro this week, to help you decide the best time for you to change currencies. Exchange rate changes: Pound to euro: 1.2807 to 1.2804 (-0.023%). Pound to US dollar: 1.5478 to 1.5692 (+1.383%) Euro to US dollar: 1.2094 to 1.2297 (+1.679%) What’s affected the foreign exchange rates this week? 1. Mario Draghi vows to save the euro. It’s been a tough week for the US dollar, which has lost two cents apiece to the pound and euro. This is because, speaking yesterday at a conference in London, president of the European … [Read more...] about Euro climbs as ECB’s Draghi vows to do “whatever it takes”
Euro sinks as Eurozone commitment wavers
Welcome to my weekly account of what’s affecting the euro exchange rate. Changes over one week: Pound to euro: 1.267 to 1.282 (+1.2% increase) Euro to US dollar: 1.219 to 1.226 (+0.53% increase.) Further evidence this week that the Eurozone’s politicians inhabit an alternate plane of existence, in which the economic woes befalling us mere mortals are but a cipher, or passing dream. French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said to officials in Washington: “People are, I think, happily surprised about what we're doing.” To which, I would have asked Monsieur Moscovici had I been there, to which people are you referring? Because, based on the tens of thousands of people protesting … [Read more...] about Euro sinks as Eurozone commitment wavers
A slice of Vegas in Spain stirs controversy
It sounds like the answer to the prayers of the Spanish government. A multi-billion-dollar gambling complex led by an American tycoon who promises to bring the glamour of California to Spain and kick-start the country’s struggling economy by creating a quarter of a million jobs. But EuroVegas, as it’s known, is also a scheme that has sparked fears about spiralling crime, prostitution and environmental violations and which has highlighted the age-old tensions between Spain’s two main cities. American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, with an estimated $25-billion fortune, plans to build a European gambling hub that will include six casinos and 12 hotels. His Las Vegas Sands company says … [Read more...] about A slice of Vegas in Spain stirs controversy
ECB interest rate cut sends euro to 2012 low
Welcome to my weekly account of movement in the foreign exchange rates. So just one week has passed, and you might be forgiven for thinking that there was no EU summit at all last Friday. Because today, the yield on Spanish bonds again sits at 7.00%. The pound meanwhile (at 1.2560) is at its highest point against the euro since October 2008. Pessimistic business as usual for Europe then, when just seven days ago the outlook looked much rosier. So what’s happened? This week, the reversal in Europe’s fortunes can be attributed squarely to the European Central Bank. Speaking yesterday, its President Mario Draghi said things that not just implied the future impotence of the ECB to aid the … [Read more...] about ECB interest rate cut sends euro to 2012 low
Euro up as Spain, Italy take a stand
That, at least, is the takeaway from yesterday’s EU summit, in which Spain and Italy won significant concessions to keep themselves solvent, only by telling Germany they would block “everything” unless immediate steps were taken to help them. Does it sound professional? No. But insofar as Mariano Rajoy and Mario Monti were desperate, it probably doesn’t matter. Moreover, the panicked tactics of the Spanish and Italian premiers have provided the breakthrough the markets were looking for. On Friday, the euro climbed 1.00% against the pound and US dollar and, compared to the brief rally that followed Spain announcing its bailout, this one looks set to last. “At last,” the markets are saying, … [Read more...] about Euro up as Spain, Italy take a stand
Euro holds firm as crisis drags on
Welcome to my weekly account of changes in the euro exchange rate. This is intended as a brief guide to what’s affected the exchange rate this week, to help you decide when’s the best time for you to change currencies. Exchange rates: GBP to EUR: +1.06% (1.231 to 1.243) USD to EUR: +0.80% (0.791 to 0.797) As you can see here, the euro has held more or less stable in the past week. Yes, the pound has gained more than a cent, but this is within the range established these last six weeks, between 1.23 and 1.25. Of course, this doesn’t mean to say nothing’s happening in Europe. Quite the opposite. Right now, politicians seem to be doing more and saying more than any time I can recall … [Read more...] about Euro holds firm as crisis drags on