Sterling remains one of our least favourite currencies. We have frequently highlighted the terrible state of the UK economy, and the baleful effects the heavy private and public debt loads are having on its long-term health. This places the burden on the external sector, eg exports and earnings from overseas investments, to revitalize the UK economy. A weaker currency is the easiest and quickest way to increase the competitiveness of the external sector.
In the aftermath of the Lehman bankruptcy, the Bank of England helped engineer a 25% weakening of sterling. But this was not enough, and the current account and trade deficit have shown no signs of a sustainable pick-up.
