Investing.com - The jobless rate in the U.K. remained as expected at an 11-year low in December, while wages rose less than forecast and the unemployment benefits claimant count for January unexpectedly fell, official data showed on Wednesday.
The Office for National Statistics said that the rate of unemployment remained unchanged for at an 11-year low of 4.8% in the three months to December, in line with forecasts.
The claimant count declined by a seasonally adjusted 42,400 in January, compared to expectations for an increase of 800 people, and following a decline of 20,500 a month earlier, whose figure was revised from a previously reported decrease of 10,100 people.
Meanwhile, the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 2.6% in the three months to December, compared to forecasts for it to increase 2.8% as it did in the prior month.
Excluding bonuses, wages also rose by 2.6% in the final month of 2016, missing forecasts for a 2.7% rise. Wages excluding bonuses had increased 2.7% in the three months to November.
Following the report, GBP/USD traded at 1.2425 from around 1.2455 ahead of the release of the data, EUR/GBP was at 0.8488 from 0.8475 earlier, while GBP/JPY exchanged hands at 142.24 compared to 142.49 prior to the release.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were broadly higher. London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.46%, the benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 traded up 0.58%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.44%, while Germany's DAX gained 0.45%.