{
  "id": 5539733,
  "title": "Pound firm ahead of US jobs data, unruffled by geopolitics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/pound-firm-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-unruffled-by-geopolitics-5539733",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T10:51:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/09/04/pound-firm-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-unruffled-by-geopolitics"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The pound remained stable against the US dollar on Friday, awaiting crucial US employment figures that could influence the dollar's trajectory in the weeks ahead. Sterling was last quoted at US$1.3525, essentially unchanged from Thursday's 0.3% increase. Volatility was kept in check as traders awaited the release of the US nonfarm payrolls report on Friday, which could see the dollar gain if employment growth exceeded forecasts, or lose value if hiring fell short. Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill suggested raising interest rates now could reduce the likelihood of the central bank adopting a more aggressive stance later to combat inflation, which has surged due to the Iran conflict. Market data indicates traders anticipate two rate hikes from the Bank of England in the next six months. Economists believe the central bank will maintain interest rates steady this month, closely watching corporate pricing power and wage growth amidst high energy prices from the Iran war. Despite concerns about high energy costs and the complex fiscal landscape, leading to a mild bearish view on the pound, BBVA strategists view the renewed energy price surge as potentially prompting a policy recalibration that could bolster sterling's appeal. However, they caution that this is unlikely to spark a significant uptick in the pound as multiple hikes are already priced in. British businesses anticipate a slight deceleration in price hikes in the coming year, according to a Bank of England survey published on Friday. Geopolitically, Argentine President Javier Milei vowed to penalize oil firms drilling in the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, which could heighten tensions with London. President Donald Trump has been reviewing the US's neutral stance on the Falkland Islands. British defence minister Wes Streeting reaffirmed the UK's \"unshakeable\" commitment to the Falklands in a recent statement on X. US Trade Representative Jamie Zamora commented that Britain has opted for \"Brussels over America,\" posing a challenge to London's bid to strengthen trade ties with Washington. UK markets exhibited resilience, with 10-year gilts yieldling at 5.1431%, showing no change for the day.",
  "summary": "Money markets show traders expect the Bank of England to raise interest rates twice over the next six months.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pound firm ahead of US jobs data, unruffled by geopolitics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/pound-firm-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-unruffled-by-geopolitics",
        "published": "2026-09-04T10:51:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}