US-Iran tensions lifted oil prices and raised bets the Bank of England will
tighten; sterling rose to a one-year high vs the euro and a three-week high vs
the dollar. Monex Europe said the oil shock is reinforcing the Bank of England's
tightening outlook and that "the UK's inf problem remains more stubborn than the
US or euro area." Easing UK political risks and an IMF upgrade to the UK's
growth forecast also underpinned sterling.