LONDON, July 24, 2018 (News Wires) - The pound edged up above $1.31 on Tuesday as the dollar skidded lower but gains for the British currency were capped by fresh angst over Brexit and doubts about the economy. Weak economic data and deepening political uncertainty over the government's Brexit position hammered sterling last week and sent it to 10-month lows. The currency has in recent sessions, however, eked out some gains against the dollar and the euro despite weaker-than-expected retail sales and softer inflation data. Next week the Bank of England meets, and markets are giving an 80 per cent chance that it will increase interest rates. At 08:00 GMT on Tuesday the pound was up 0.1 per cent against the dollar at $1.3106 and up 0.1 per cent against the euro at 89.09 pence, a three-day high. With no clear sense of direction, sterling remains exposed to moves in other currencies. It fell to a three-week low against a resurgent yen Monday after the Japanese currency received a boost from reports the central bank was contemplating scaling back its stimulus. And the pound rallied against the dollar on Friday after US President Donald Trump criticised the Federal Reserve's policy on raising interest rates and accused the European Union and China of manipulating their currencies. Sterling looks set for more volatility, especially if there are signs that support for a "hard" Brexit - crashing out of the European Union without a trade deal in place - is gaining ground. "The price of the pound continues to reflect an enigma of uncertainties: a fragile UK government, uncertainty over the Brexit end-state and economic policy uncertainty," said Viraj Patel, FX strategist, at ING in London. Patel said that the pound could fall against the euro to 92 pence in the third quarter of 2018 if Brexit anxieties persist. Britain called on European Union negotiators on Monday to urgently change their approach to Brexit or face the turmoil of a "no-deal by accident".
