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The COVID-19 pandemic caused global central banks to take emergency action to support the world’s economies; one such measure was the rapid cut in interest rates to record lows.
The United States Dollar has been the de facto global currency for the better part of the past century. While rhetoric questioning its longevity in this role has been around for decades, the past year has seen more leaders of rapidly emerging economies beginning to question why it still needs to be this way.
The Court of Appeal in England has decided in MUR Shipping BV v. RTI Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1406 (27 October 2022) that sometimes a party must accept payment in Euros, even though the contract expressly stipulated payment to be made in US Dollars. Although the case is not about independent undertakings, DCW readers might ask if the decision could have implications for letters of credit and demand guarantees.
In late September the pound fell spectacularly from above $1.12 to a new record low of $1.035 versus the US dollar.
It’s true that the dollar had been appreciating for many months, and the pound was one of the most undervalued currencies of the year, but this was news making headlines and front pages around the world, and it was exclusively a domestic problem.
For the third day in succession, a test of the psychologically important parity level in Euro-Dollar is underway, but a significant layer of options barriers could yet mean the exchange rate closes above this level again.
