During recent months, the Canadian dollar traded a tight range against Sterling between 2.2500 and 2.3000. This follows a sharp uptrend in GBP/CAD from a low around 1.9737 (02/03/06) to a recent high at 2.3567 (23/01/07) caused by expectations of higher interest rates in the UK, coupled with interest rate stagnation in Canada. At the same time, the US$ has weakened, forcing the exchange over US$2 per GBP and down to US$1.11 per CAD giving UK customers a boost while detracting the value for our southern neighbours.
In the UK, the Bank of England left interest rates on hold in April, however, expectations of higher rates in the months ahead continue to offer support to Sterling. With a buoyant housing market and strong levels of consumer spending, the market is expecting that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be forced to raise rates at least once more in an attempt to dampen down inflationary pressures. The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI the most recognised measure of inflation in the UK) is currently running at 2.8% y/y against a target rate of 2.0% and raising interest rates is the most obvious way of combating rising prices.
Meanwhile, Canada has...