Investing.com - The average earnings index in the U.K. increased broadly in line with market expectations in the three months to August, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in the three months to August, in line with forecasts, after rising by 0.6% in the three months to July.
Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 0.9% in the three months to August, above expectations for a gain of 0.8% and following a 0.8% gain in the three months to July.
GBP/USD was trading at 1.5922 from around 1.5920 ahead of the release of the data, while EUR/GBP was at 0.7950 from 0.7954 earlier.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained lower. London’s FTSE 100 lost 1.1%, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 shed 0.7%, France's CAC 40 declined 0.45%, while Germany's DAX slumped 0.4%.