Analysis: Currencies

Hopes for euro zone, Germany growth rising even before debt deal news

BENGALURU - Optimism was already building among economists on German and euro zone growth in a Reuters poll taken just before key political parties in Germany agreed a historic deal on debt,...

Olli Rehn wins new term as Bank of Finland governor, ECB policy maker

Finland's President Alexander Stubb has appointed Olli Rehn to a second seven-year term as head of Finland's central bank, the government said in a statement on Friday. Rehn will also...

Dollar holds firm, euro drifts as global trade tensions escalate

The U.S. dollar was broadly firmer on Friday with the euro pulling further away from a five-month peak as markets grappled with escalating global trade tensions and risks of a sharp economic downturn....

Sterling stays near four-month highs as UK avoids tariff tit-for-tat

The British pound fell slightly against a firmer dollar on Thursday but remained close to four-month highs, bolstered by the UK's relatively measured approach to U.S. trade ructions. ...

Too early to discuss unblocking foreign funds in Russia, finance ministry says

Moscow is unwilling for now to discuss the unblocking of foreigners' funds in Russia while its own sovereign and private assets remain frozen overseas, Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said on...

Sterling little changed against dollar despite US tariff woes

Sterling steadied against the dollar on Wednesday, holding below four-month highs hit in the previous session, as Britain held back from retaliating against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium...

Rouble hits over six-month high after Ukraine pummels Moscow with drones

The Russian rouble strengthened to a more than six-week high against the dollar on Tuesday, buoyed by subdued imports and hopes for a resolution to the war in Ukraine, even after Kyiv launched its...

High spending pushes Russia's budget deficit to $31.5 billion in February

Russia's budget deficit widened to 1.3% of gross domestic product in February, or 2.70 trillion roubles , the finance ministry said on Tuesday, as government spending remained elevated. ...

Dollar dithers as safety bid flows to the yen

The yen was investors' safe harbour of choice on Tuesday and it traded near five-month highs as fears about a tariff-driven slowdown in U.S. growth have rattled U.S. stocks and the dollar. ...

Swiss franc and yen benefit from turbulence

Investors continue to prefer safe-haven assets in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. This is illustrated by the continued rise of the yen and the Swiss franc against the greenback . ...

Pound heads for worst weekly run versus euro since 2023

The pound headed for its worst weekly performance against the euro in over two years on Friday, as a boost to European spending drove a broad rally in the single currency, while against the dollar,...

Euro zone economy grew faster than initially thought in Q4

The euro zone economy grew faster in the final quarter of 2024 than first estimated but nearly all of the revision is due to Ireland, where a large multinational sector often distorts data, figures...

Russian tanker group Sovcomflot says 2024 net profit down by 55%

Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot said on Friday that its net profit had dropped by 55% to $424 million in 2024. Sovcomflot's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and...

Ukraine's economic outlook remains exceptionally uncertain, IMF says

Ukraine is continuing to make good progress in implementing structural reforms, but its economic outlook remains exceptionally uncertain given its ongoing war against Russia's invasion, the...

For markets, German fiscal splurge blurs ECB outlook

A tectonic shift in German fiscal policy has compounded uncertainty for traders trying to bet on how fast the European Central Bank will cut rates for the rest of the year, with a change to the bank's...

Legal basis matters for moves on Russian assets, Lagarde says

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday she expected any decision by Western countries on what to do with currently-frozen Russian assets would take into account...

Italy's Leonardo, Turkey's Baykar to set up drone joint venture

Italy's Leonardo and Turkey's Baykar announced on Thursday they were setting up a joint venture to produce unmanned aerial vehicles , as defence companies seek to take advantage of rising military...

Sterling eases against the euro as eyes on Germany's debt overhaul

The pound weakened against the euro on Wednesday as traders piled into the common currency after Germany's plan for a massive infrastructure fund and an easing of debt rules to boost spending, though...

Russia's services sector expansion slows in February, PMI shows

Russia's services sector saw its slowest growth in six months in February, a business survey showed on Wednesday, as new order growth slowed. The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index...