Sterling slipped against the dollar on Thursday, and FXStreet attributed the move to Iran-related security risk and U.S. labor figures, factors it said were supporting demand for the U.S. currency.
In an Oct. 22 report, FXStreet placed the pound-dollar rate at $1.3372 at 11:58 a.m. ET (15:58 UTC), down 0.16% on the day; the pair had earlier touched $1.3419.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said continued U.S. escorts for vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz could draw U.S. bases in the region into the conflict, according to a statement carried by Sepah News.
New unemployment-benefit filings, seasonally adjusted, numbered 194,000 in the period ended Oct. 17, a weekly drop of 6,000, the U.S. Department of Labor said. It revised its prior-week figure to 200,000 from 199,000. For the week ended Oct. 10, continuing-benefit claims reached 1.728 million, 25,000 above the previous tally.
For the 12 months to September 2026, UK consumer price index (CPI) inflation was 3.5%, compared with 3.1% for the 12 months to August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The monthly CPI measure rose 0.4% in September.
The ONS scheduled the September retail sales release for Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 a.m. ET (06:00 UTC). The Bank of England's next policy announcement is set for Nov. 5.
