(Typo)
March 11 (Reuters) - Cable subdued with narrow ranges reflecting a market that does not want to be offside ahead of the next geopolitical headline. Conviction is lacking as getting whipsawed is clearly the risk here. That said, GBP has held up well, largely on cross-driven moves with EUR/GBP grinding to five-week lows as longs are trimmed. The Iran conflict remains the wild card for sterling. With inflation already printing above target, an oil shock layered on top can quickly change the conversation from when the Bank of England cuts to if it cuts. Note that OBR’s David Miles said UK inflation could end the year at 3%, compared to 2% if energy prices remain at current levels.
Clearly the bond market is responding, with 10-year gilt yields back towards 4.70% and the curve pricing little in the way of easing. That suggests that the MPC could sit on its hands longer than many expect.
Next week, the BoE meets, which pre-conflict looked like it
was teeing up a March cut, and now it is likely to be a
wait-and-see. Most economists have already pushed back the base
case to April, but if the conflict drags, we could see another
kicking of the can to the second half of the year. With this in
mind, the geopolitical news flow should continue to run the
show.
BoE pricing

Justin McQueen is a Reuters market analyst. (The views expressed
are his own); Editing by Lisa Shumaker
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