1. Morning Comment - Morning Comment: Mon 18 May: Keirfuffle unhelpful to sterling

1. Morning Comment - Morning Comment: Mon 18 May: Keirfuffle unhelpful to sterling https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/morningcomment/ en-us 18 May 2026 08:11:38 IST 18 May 2026 08:11:38 IST https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/morningcomment/rss.xml Newsweaver aib.customertreasuryservices@aib.ie (AIB) support@newsweaver.ie (Newsweaver) 60 true Morning Bullets https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/morningcomment/x8p33hi0k4i?lang=en&rss=true Good Morning , Here’s a quick look at today’s economic news and market activity: Generally cautious tone to investor sentiment last week Amid on-going concerns over the Middle East Conflict Oil prices came under some renewed upward pressure This benefitted the dollar Meanwhile, political uncertainty was unhelpful to sterling EUR/USD is back nearer to $1.16, while EUR/GBP has regained the 87p level Ahead this week, the Middle East conflict will remain in focus 08 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT 2a2ddd11cd736de1ded2eefad5d55498 ARTICLE_1_COLUMN-clone-33119379-20230104-085624 Good Morning ,   Here’s a quick look at today’s economic news and market activity: <ul type="disc"> <li>Generally cautious tone to investor sentiment last week</li> <li>Amid on-going concerns over the Middle East Conflict</li> <li>Oil prices came under some renewed upward pressure</li> <li>This benefitted the dollar</li> <li>Meanwhile, political uncertainty was unhelpful to sterling</li> <li>EUR/USD is back nearer to $1.16, while EUR/GBP has regained the 87p level</li> <li>Ahead this week, the Middle East conflict will remain in focus</li> </ul> Continue Reading https://aib.ie/content/dam/aib/fxcentre/docs/daily/morning-comment-mon-18-may.pdf AIB Services PMI - Service sector activity declines for first time in over five years in April https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/morningcomment/snrnmcvubla?lang=en&rss=true First decline in total activity since February 2021 New business little-changed since March, outlook remains subdued Input price inflation highest since December 2022 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 IST aa95812b9d479b3897b829110f193fc6 ARTICLE_1_COLUMN-clone-33119379-20230104-085624 <ul> <li>First decline in total activity since February 2021</li> <li>New business little-changed since March, outlook remains subdued</li> <li>Input price inflation highest since December 2022 </li> </ul> https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/62745/ca/b67048cdbbc4a82b6a7249.png Read more https://aib.ie/content/dam/aib/fxcentre/docs/resource-centre/aib-ireland-services-pmi/apr-2026-report.pdf Today's Opening FX Rates https://aibmorningcommentary.newsweaver.com/morningcomment/dxjowkl5qyv?lang=en&rss=true % Change Day* End 2025 EUR/USD 1.163 -0.15 -0.98 EUR/GBP 0.8714 0.00 -0.01 GBP/USD 1.3343 -0.13 -0.96 GBP/EUR 1.1471 0.00 0.01 *versus Previous Day's European Open All rates quoted are indicative market rates. 06 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT f2f47c7b2b1b66c5676137a350533a0d Feature Article - image right <table style="color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: normal; border-collapse: collapse; width: 487px; max-width: 100%; height: 135.281px; background-color: #ecf0f1;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 32.5px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 106.375px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 98.5156px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 77.3125px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 107.797px;">% Change Day*</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 85px;">End 2025</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 20.3125px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; background-color: #e7e6e6; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 106.375px;">EUR/USD</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; background-color: #e7e6e6; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 98.5156px;">1.163</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; background-color: #e7e6e6; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 77.3125px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; background-color: #e7e6e6; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 107.797px;">-0.15</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; background-color: #e7e6e6; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 85px;">-0.98</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 20.8438px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 106.375px;">EUR/GBP</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 98.5156px;">0.8714</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 77.3125px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 107.797px;">0.00</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 85px;">-0.01</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 20.3125px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 106.375px; background-color: #e7e6e6;">GBP/USD</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 98.5156px; background-color: #e7e6e6;">1.3343</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 77.3125px; background-color: #e7e6e6;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 107.797px; background-color: #e7e6e6;">-0.13</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 85px; background-color: #e7e6e6;">-0.96</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 20.3125px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 106.375px;">GBP/EUR</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 98.5156px;">1.1471</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 77.3125px;"> </td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 107.797px;">0.00</td> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 85px;">0.01</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: windowtext; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none; text-align: center; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-style: none; white-space: nowrap; width: 475px;" colspan="5">*versus Previous Day's European Open</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> All rates quoted are indicative market rates.     View Rates https://aib.ie/fxcentre