Select Language

Pound sinks 1% as UK Gilt yields hit 1998 highs

Breaking news

Pound sinks 1% as UK Gilt yields hit 1998 highs

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
update 2025.09.03 00:09
Pound sinks 1% as UK Gilt yields hit 1998 highs

update 2025.09.03 00:09

  • GBP/USD drops to 1.3409 after 30-year Gilt yields soar to 5.697%, the highest since May 1998.
  • Market fears Reeves' budget may raise taxes, hurting growth; Starmer reshuffle fuels political uncertainty in Downing Street.
  • US ISM Manufacturing PMI contracts for sixth month, while S&P Global survey shows business activity deterioration.

The Pound Sterling tumbles 1% on Tuesday as UK 30-year Gilts rose to 5.697%, its highest level since May 1998 due to fiscal concerns linked to the Autumn Budget. In the meantime, US economic data was mixed, following the release of Purchasing Managers' Index (PMIs) reports from S&P Global and the ISM. The GBP/USD trades at 1.3399 after hitting a high of 1.3549.

Sterling pressured by surging 30-year yields, fiscal concerns, and political reshuffle as US data remains mixed

In the UK, pressure on Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is growing. Market participants expect her to raise taxes in the next budget to remain on course for her fiscal targets, which could dent growth.

In the meantime, Reuters revealed that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reshuffling his top team of advisers, including the Deputy Finance Minister Darren Jones into Downing Street, along with naming Minouche Shafik, a former Deputy Bank of England Governor, as his chief economic adviser.

Those appointments seem to have weakened Chancellor Reeves' stance. Some analysts speculate that even Reeves could be removed from office.

Across the pond, the ISM Manufacturing PMI shrank for the sixth straight month though improved, from 48.0 to 48.7 in August. The PMI was expected to hit 49.0.

The sub-components of the ISM showed that production fell in the previous month, and factory employment continues to cool. Worth noting that the prices paid component slipped to a still high 63.7 from 64.8 in July, an indication that tariffs are slowing passing through to higher inflation.

On the other hand, S&P Global revealed that business activity in the manufacturing sector deteriorated, from 53.3 to 53.0.

GBP/USD Price Forecast: Technical outlook

The GBP/USD is still upward biased, despite falling towards 1.3340, to an 18-day low, clearing key support levels like the 50 and 100-day SMAs, each at 1.3479 and 1.3448, respectively.

From a momentum standpoint, the pair turned bearish as the RSI drops below its 50-neutral level. Nevertheless, the GBP/USD needs to surpass the August 1 low of 1.3141, so the pair could turn bearish and challenge the 200-day SMA at 1.3049.

On the other hand, if bulls want to regain control, they need to reclaim the 100-day SMA, the 50-day SMA and the 1.3500 figure.

Pound Sterling Price This week

The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies this week. British Pound was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.

USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF
USD 0.27% 0.75% 0.76% 0.42% 0.40% 0.43% 0.39%
EUR -0.27% 0.48% 0.43% 0.15% 0.13% 0.17% 0.12%
GBP -0.75% -0.48% -0.16% -0.33% -0.35% -0.31% -0.30%
JPY -0.76% -0.43% 0.16% -0.28% -0.35% -0.29% -0.33%
CAD -0.42% -0.15% 0.33% 0.28% -0.01% 0.01% 0.02%
AUD -0.40% -0.13% 0.35% 0.35% 0.01% 0.03% 0.02%
NZD -0.43% -0.17% 0.31% 0.29% -0.01% -0.03% 0.00%
CHF -0.39% -0.12% 0.30% 0.33% -0.02% -0.02% -0.01%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).


Date

Created

 : 2025.09.03

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.09.03

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD hovers near $44.00 near 14-year highs

Silver price (XAG/USD) pares its recent losses from the previous session, trading around $44.00 per troy ounce during the European hours on Thursday.
New
update2025.09.25 12:04

WTI declines to near $64.50 on profit-taking

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $64.55 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. The WTI decline as traders take profits after a rise to a three-week high in the previous session.
New
update2025.09.25 11:43

USD/CAD holds losses below 1.3900 ahead of US Q2 GDP Annualized

USD/CAD halts its three-day winning streak, trading around 1.3890 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair loses ground as the US Dollar (USD) corrects downwards after registering more than 0.5% gains in the previous session.
New
update2025.09.25 11:38

Japanese Yen strengthens on hawkish BoJ Minutes, lacks follow-through

The Japanese Yen (JPY) strengthened during the Asian session on Thursday following the release of the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) July meeting Minutes, which revealed that the central bank expects to keep hiking if inflation and the economy move as estimated.
New
update2025.09.25 11:27

Australian Dollar pares recent losses due to technical correction

The Australian Dollar (AUD) advances against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, recovering recent losses from the previous session. The AUD/USD pair gains ground as the Greenback remains steady ahead of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter (Q2) due later in the day.
New
update2025.09.25 11:20

PBOC Deputy Governor: Global bond investors remain confident in China's bond market

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) Deputy Governor said on Thursday that global bond investors remain confident in China's bond market. The Chinese officials further stated that they are working on promoting Chinese onshore bonds to become qualified collateral in Hong Kong and global markets. 
New
update2025.09.25 10:52

NZD/USD extends downside to near 0.5800 as Fed's Powell signals caution on rate cuts

The NZD/USD pair remains on the defensive around 0.5815 during the early Asian session on Thursday. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone on further easing on Tuesday, supporting the US Dollar (USD).
New
update2025.09.25 10:50

PBOC sets USD/CNY reference rate at 7.1118 vs. 7.1077 previous

On Thursday, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 7.1118 compared to the previous day's fix of 7.1077 and 7.1293 Reuters estimate.
New
update2025.09.25 10:15

Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD drifts higher to near $3,750 amid rate cut bets, geopolitical risks

The Gold price (XAU/USD) trades in positive territory around $3,750 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The precious metal edges higher amid expectations of further US rate cuts from the Federal Reserve (Fed) this year and persistent geopolitical risks.
New
update2025.09.25 10:02

BoJ Minutes: To keep raising rates if economy, prices move in line with its forecast

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) board members shared their views on the monetary policy outlook on Thursday, per the BoJ Minutes of the July meeting.     
New
update2025.09.25 08:59

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel