Cable hits 1.2387 after extending north from 1.2254 (Asian session low)

1.2387 is highest level since Dec 15 (1.2428 was high that day)

Ascent to 1.2387 fuelled by hot UK inflation in services prices gauge

This jumped to 30-year high of 6.8% YY in December, from 6.4% in November

Hot data has increased the chance of 50 bps BoE rate hike to 4% on Feb 2

U.S. Dec retail sales data due at 1330 GMT; minus 0.8% f/c vs -0.6% in Nov