Pound Rises Amid Rising Risk Appetite; U.K. Trade Data In Focus

The British pound strengthened against most major currencies in the late Asian session on Friday, as investor sentiment boosted after minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting reinforced the view that the central bank may delay its first interest rate hike into next year. Meanwhile, the traders await the U.K. trade balance data, due later in the day.

In the minutes, most officials decided it would be "prudent" to wait for signs that problems overseas, especially in China, would dissapate. The Fed voted 9 to 1 to hold rates steady.

The Office for National Statistics publishes U.K. foreign trade data for August at 4:30 am ET. The visible trade deficit is seen narrowing to GBP 9.92 billion in August from GBP 11.08 billion in July.

Thursday, the pound showed mixed performance against its major rivals. While the pound rose against the U.S. dollar and the yen, it held steady against the euro and the Swiss franc.

In the late Asian trading, the pound rose to more than 2-week highs of 1.5373 against the U.S. dollar and 184.44 against the yen, from early lows of 1.5341 and 183.92, respectively. If the pound extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 1.55 against the greenback and 188.00 against the yen.

Against the euro, the pound advanced to 0.7336 from an early low of 0.7355. On the upside, 0.72 is seen as the next resistance level for the pound.

Meanwhile, the pound rose to 1.4859 against the Swiss franc, from an early low of 1.4816 and held steady thereafter.

Looking ahead, U.K. trade balance and construction output, both for August, are due to be released later in the day.

In the New York session, Canada unemployment rate for September, U.S. import price index for September and wholesale inventories for August are slated for release.

At 9:10 am ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart is expected to speak about the US economic outlook and monetary policy at the University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism.

Subsequently, at 1:30 pm ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans will deliver a speech titled "A Perspective on Monetary Policy," in Milwaukee.