THE TAKEAWAY: UK PMI for services rises to 52.9, an eight month high -> Markit says likelihood of further QE falls -> Pound trading higher

The rate of expansion of the UK services sector has increased for the fourth straight month, according to Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for April. The PMI for services was reported at 52.9, coming in at an eight month high and beating expectations for the PMI to remain at 52.4. A PMI reported above 50.0 indicates an expansion in sector activity.

The weighted average of the three UK PMI’s was 52.4 in April, up from 51.0 in March, and the UK economy avoided a triple dip recession and rose 0.3% in Q1 of 2013. Stronger economic expansion is Pound positive, as it removes pressure for the BoE to loosen monetary policy. “A broad-based improvement is becoming evident in the UK economy, greatly reducing the likelihood of the Bank of England seeing any need to increase its asset purchases in the immediate future,” said Markit Chief Economist Chris Williamson.

The better than expected PMI for services drove the Pound about twenty five points higher against the US Dollar in Forex markets. Resistance might next be seen by an 11-week high recently set at 1.5606, and support may be provided by the key 1.5500 level.

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GBPUSDDaily: May 03, 2013

Chart created by Benjamin Spier using Marketscope 2.0

-- Written by Benjamin Spier, DailyFX Research. Feedback can be sent to bbspier@fxcm.com .

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