Investing.com – Mortgage approvals in the U.K. fell unexpectedly in December, industry data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the British Banker's Association said that the number of new mortgages approved in December fell to 28.7K, after declining to 29.7K in November, whose figure was revised down from 30K.
Analysts had expected the number of mortgage approvals to rise to 29.9K in December.
Following the release of that data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD rising 0.13% to hit 1.5835.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were broadly higher. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.88%, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.80%, France’s CAC 40 jumped 0.85%, and Germany's DAX surged 1.18%.
In a report, the British Banker's Association said that the number of new mortgages approved in December fell to 28.7K, after declining to 29.7K in November, whose figure was revised down from 30K.
Analysts had expected the number of mortgage approvals to rise to 29.9K in December.
Following the release of that data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD rising 0.13% to hit 1.5835.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were broadly higher. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.88%, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.80%, France’s CAC 40 jumped 0.85%, and Germany's DAX surged 1.18%.