Investing.com - A report revealing a rather bustling U.K. service sector send the pound firming over the dollar on Wednesday despite positive data hitting the wire across the Atlantic in the U.S.
In U.S. trading on Wednesday, GBP/USD was up 0.46% at 1.5710, up from a session low of 1.5619 and off a high of 1.5719.
Cable was likely to find support at 1.5585, Monday's low, and resistance at 1.5765, Monday's high.
U.K. service-sector output rose at a faster pace in November than investors were expecting, easing concerns that the economic recovery is moderating.
The Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers' index rose to 58.6 last month from 56.2 in October. Economists had expected the index to tick up to 56.6, and the report gave the pound an edge over the dollar despite positive data out of the U.S.
The Institute of Supply Management reported earlier said that its non-manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 59.3 in November from 57.1 in October.
Analysts had expected the index to inch up to 57.5 in November, and the better-than-expected report kept expectations firm that the Federal Reserve will move to hike interest rates next year.
The data came after payroll processor ADP reported that the U.S. private sector created 208,000 jobs in November, falling short of expectations for jobs growth of 223,000 and down from 233,000 in October.
Still, the number topped 200,000, which allayed fears that Friday's official November jobs report may indicate that the labor market may be softening.
Elsewhere, sterling was up against the euro, with EUR/GBP down 1.02% at 0.7840, and up against the yen, with GBP/JPY up 0.87% at 188.10.
The euro softened after Markit Economics reported that its euro zone composite PMI, which covers both the manufacturing and service sectors across the currency bloc, fell to 51.1 last month from 51.4 in October, missing market calls for an unchanged reading.
Also in the euro zone, retail sales rose less than expected in October, underlining concerns over the region’s economic outlook, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, Eurostat said retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in October, missing forecasts for a gain of 0.6%.
Retail sales fell by 1.2% in September, whose figure was revised from a previously reported drop of 1.3%.
Year-over-year, retail sales in the euro zone increased 1.4% in October from a year earlier, beating expectations for a 1.2% gain and after rising 0.5% in September.
The overall weak data added to pressure on the European Central Bank to step up measures to spur growth and combat persistently low levels of inflation in the region ahead of its monetary policy meeting on Thursday.
On Thursday, the Bank of England is to announce its benchmark interest rate, while the U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims.