• GBP$ soft in NY afternoon, -0.14% at 1.3472; Thursday range 1.3633-1.3570

• Early risk bid fades amid less-optimistic Mideast peace comments

• Saudi Arabia, Kuwait have lifted restrictions on U.S. military use of their bases, airspace

• Oil reversed early gains, Brent had been as low as $96.03, trades $101.50 in NY afternoon

• Friday's US payroll data in focus for clues at employment/inflation/growth function

• GBP$ supt 1.3570 Thursday low, 1.3549 rising 10-DMA, 1.3514 daily cloud top

• Res 1.3643 Wednesday high, 1.3658 daily high May 1, 1.3713 upper 30-d Bolli

• Seems GBP$ bulls need more than whiff of peace to test the May 1 high at 1.3658 & above

Sterling Chart:


(Paul.Spirgel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)