Investing.com - The average earnings index in the U.K. increased more than expected in the three months to December, 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 2.1% in the three months to December, above forecasts for 1.7% and after increasing by 1.8% in the three months to November.
Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 1.7% in the three months to December, below expectations for a gain of 1.8% and following a 1.8% increase in the three months to November.
GBP/USD was trading at 1.5416 from around 1.5374 ahead of the release of the data, while EUR/GBP was at 0.7394 from 0.7416 earlier.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained broadly higher. London’s FTSE 100 tacked on 0.15%, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.9%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.95%, while Germany's DAX picked up 0.65%.