FX round-up: Sterling mixed after election interviews

Sterling was mixed across key pairs on Tuesday afternoon, having emerged relatively unscathed after the long weekend's serving of steady general election news.

At 17:05 BST, sterling was up 0.11% to $1.2854. The dollar-spot index was down 0.14% to $97.302.

"The British pound recouped some more of last week’s losses despite a Guardian/ICM poll showing the Tory election lead down to 12 points," said Jasper Lawler of London Capital Group.

Televised interviews with PM Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, respectively the leaders of the Conservatives and Labour, offered no standout moments to roil markets, said Lawler.

The British currency -- likely to remain sensitive to any election or Brexit related news -- was down on the aussie, kiwi and yen, but up on the loonie and rand.

"Domestic attentions this week are likely to focus on polling ahead of the UK general election which is now less than 10 days away," said Chris Saint at HL Currency Service.

"Thursday's manufacturing PMI data could provide a steer on the economy's more recent performance after last week's disappointing first-quarter GDP figures," he added.

But, a relatively quiet UK economic calendar meant data might not have a big say on the pound's direction unless there were4 significant surprises, said Saint.

Sterling ended down 0.09% to €1.1492. The bloc's currency had been under pressure yesterday after ECB President Mario Draghi poured cold water on chat the central bank might soon consider scaling back its stimulus measures.

"The euro began the day besieged by political risk and dovish European central bankers but bounced back in style by the afternoon," said Lawler.

"The bounce came amidst mixed economic data that saw economic growth in France accelerate while inflation moderated in Germany.

"The inflation in Europe has largely be derived from higher fuel prices, but as oil prices languish that effect becomes less pronounced."

Turning to the dollar, it took had a mixed performance on Tuesday. It was down on the aussie, kiwi and yen, but up on the loonie and aussie.

Its falls were, in part, linked to worse-than-expected consumer confidence figures out this afternoon, said Connor Campbell of Spreadex.

Looking ahead, Saint said Friday's non-farm payroll jobs figures in the US would headline that country's data calendar this week.

A bumper rise in employment in May could "cement expectations that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in June."