Investing.com - The pound fell to one-and-a-half month lows against the dollar on Friday after reports showing weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs growth July and a slowdown in the U.K. manufacturing sector.
GBP/USD was down 0.38% to 1.6822 late Friday, and the pair ended the week with losses of 0.94%.
The Labor Department reported that that U.S. economy added 209,000 jobs in July, below forecasts for jobs growth of 233,000. The previous month’s figure was revised up to a gain of 298,000 from a previously reported increase of 288,000.
Although it was the sixth successive month that the U.S. economy added more than 200,000 jobs, the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked up to 6.2% from 6.1% in June. In addition, wage growth was flat, pointing to underlying slack in the economy.
The data prompted investors to trim back expectations on the timing of a possible rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
The greenback had rallied earlier in the week, as strong economic data underlined the view that the recovery is gaining momentum. Official data on Wednesday showed that U.S. GDP expanded at an annual rate of 4.0% in the three months to June, outstripping forecasts of 3.0%.
The Fed also upgraded its view on the economy on Wednesday, but reiterated that considerable slack still remains in the labor market.
Sterling remained weaker after data earlier on Friday showed that the U.K. manufacturing sector expanded at the slowest pace in a year in July.
The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index for July dropped to 55.4 from a downwardly revised 57.2 in June, the lowest level since July 2013 and was well below expectations of 57.2.
The Bank of England has indicated that it expects the economic recovery to slow in the second half of the year, but the data did little to alter expectations that the central bank will hike rates before then end of 2014.
In the week ahead, investors will be looking ahead to reports on U.K. service sector activity and U.K. industrial output on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets. The guide skips Friday as there are no relevant events on this day.
Monday, August 4
The U.K. is to publish data on construction sector activity.
Tuesday, August 5
The U.K. is also to release a report on service sector expansion.
Later Tuesday, the U.S. is to publish data on factory orders, while the Institute of Supply Management is to release data on service sector growth.
Wednesday, August 6
The U.K. is to produce data on manufacturing and industrial production.
The U.S. is to publish data on the trade balance.
Thursday, August 7
The BoE is to announce its benchmark interest rate, following its monthly rate review.
The U.S. is to publish the weekly report on initial jobless claims.