- GRAPHIC-World FX rates in 2019: http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Recasts; updates prices)
The British pound jumped in late Wednesday trade, hitting session highs after British lawmakers rejected leaving the European Union without a deal in any scenario.
The non-binding vote will increase pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to rule out a "no-deal" exit, and paves the way for a vote to delay Brexit. If Britain does seek a delay, it will require the agreement of all the bloc's other 27 members.
The pound GBP= was last up 1.39 percent at $1.326 after a roller-coaster ride this week in which its price has moved within a range of 3-1/2 cents against the dollar. It remained slightly off the session high of $1.328 hit immediately after the vote as uncertainty remains around the process and the path forward.
The U.S. dollar was softer on Wednesday after new inflation data bolstered the likelihood U.S. interest rates will not be raised any time soon.
U.S. producer prices barely rose in February, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Wednesday, resulting in the smallest annual increase in more than 1-1/2 years. This is the latest sign of benign inflation, supporting the Federal Reserve's wait-and-see approach to further interest rate hikes this year.
U.S. economic data from February has been weaker than expected: Employers added just 20,000 jobs last month, a 94 percent decline from January, and both consumer and producer prices reported this week have surprised modestly to the downside. The dollar was last down 0.41 percent against the euro, at $1.133 EUR= .
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six rival currencies, was 0.43 percent lower at 96.515 .DXY .
Still the data was not dramatic enough to create a trend in either direction, said Shahab Jalinoos, global head of foreign exchange strategy at Credit Suisse. "You're not really getting the kind of economic divergence story that you might need to get more movement in the foreign exchange market."
The Australian dollar AUD= skidded lower after a consumer confidence gauge triggered fresh concerns about a slowing economy.
A measure of Australian consumer confidence slumped to its lowest in over a year in March, adding to recent signs of weakness in the economy. Sentiment in China, a major trading partner for Australia, also deteriorated on Wednesday, with Chinese share prices falling.
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