A quick summary of what’s happening

Pound jumps to 1-month high against Euro

The Pound is having a good run against the Euro, Aussie and Kiwi, but is struggling against the US Dollar.

The US Dollar is exceptionally strong against other major currencies at the moment.

We attribute a lot of that to geopolitical fear as things are kicking off in the Middle East. It’s known as a ‘risk-off’ market.

The other key factor is that opinion on interest rates is changing rapidly.

The reason is inflation is proving to be sticky.

Today’s UK inflation reading is a case in point. Once against, inflation has come in above expectations.

Core inflation is still sitting above 4% - more than double the Bank of England’s 2% target.

Hard to see any rate cuts happening without a big drop in inflation.

The US Fed has come to the same sort of conclusion, pushing back expectations of cuts until later this year.

The Europeans are less clear but you would think they are largely in the same boat.

Moreover, there’s a fair bit of volatility in exchange rates right now.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

Get in touch so we can help you take advantage of any favourable moves.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, click below.

1. Great exchange rates
2. Quick and easy transfers
3. No transfer fees
4. Expert help and guidance
5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Thursday 18th April 2024 at 15:00

£1.00 GBP = 1.1705 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2455 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.9355 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.1050 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7040 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.1340 CHF

• Want to Learn More?

• We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.

• Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

  

• Need to Send Money Abroad?

  • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
  • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
  • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

• Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
• Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
• All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Pound drops to 4-month lows against Dollar

The US Dollar has shot up after a shock inflation reading. Inflation increased from 3.2% in February to 3.5% in March.

It might not sound like a big deal, but it’s a major plot twist.

We’re in a world where inflation is expected to be falling (fast), not going back up again.

Now it seems the US Federal Reserve has the luxury of sitting back and putting their feet up for while (markets were expecting a June cut).

As a result of Dollar strength, the GBP/USD rate has dropped to 4-month lows.

Hey, things can always be worse. The Japanese Yen just hit 34-year lows against the US Dollar! Ouch.

The tug of war between the Pound and Euro continues.

The Pound made some good ground early this week with a powerful surge on Monday and Tuesday.

But a retreat yesterday suggests the Euro team is fighting back (Heave!).

There’s plenty of volatility in exchange rates at the moment.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

Please make sure you get in touch so we can discuss market trends and target rates.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out the latest rates, click below.

Kind regards, 
David Evans 
Co-Founder of Cle France.

Cle France / Key Currency

Key Currency is the currency exchange department of Cle France Ltd, 'Cle' being the French word for 'Key', did you see what we did there?

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Buckle in - Interest Rate cuts are coming

The first quarter of the year has passed already.

As we head into Q2, it’s all about interest rate cuts.

Who will be the first to act?

Futures markets indicate the US and EU will see their first rate cut in June. In the UK, expectations suggest a cut some time over the summer.

Rate cuts can have a big impact on exchange rates, so buckle in.

At the moment, Pound to Euro is in a bit of a holding pattern.

There looks to be opportunities for buyers and sellers right now, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on the daily swings.

The uptrend in Pound to Dollar seems to have stalled.

Again, I suspect investors are awaiting news on rate cuts.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, click below.

1. Great exchange rates
2. Quick and easy transfers
3. No transfer fees
4. Expert help and guidance
5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Thursday 4th April 2024 at 11:30

£1.00 GBP = 1.1665 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2660 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.9360 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.0955 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7095 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.1475 CHF

• Want to Learn More?

• We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.

• Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

  

• Need to Send Money Abroad?

  • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
  • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
  • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

• Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
• Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
• All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril - April Fish. That's why David & Sharon, the founders of Cle France, pictured in the postcard below are holding a fish!

In all regions of France there will be a lot more Fish available and being bought for celebratory lunches, a bit like Pancake Day BUT with Fish!

The first year my son played an April Fools joke on me I was confused as to why he kept shouting "Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril", the calming influence of my wife explaining why he was repeatedly shouting this phrase thankfully avoided me having him see a costly psychiatrist and as it turns out, he is fine. 

This postcard was originally sent in 1908 and the words on the bottom translate as:

'When you receive our nice fish, you'll know we're always thinking of you.'

To be honest if you opened the door at these two characters were standing there you would have a right to be scared! but they are no doubt charming friendly neighbours as is the norm in France.

The 'rules' of April Fool's and Poisson d'Avril are more or less the same thing, other than the French have a Fascination for Fish! The tradition in France is that along with practical jokes and bogus news stories, putting paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting victims is thought as hilarious, those crazy French japes eh! 

Here's a little April 1st film trivia for you: What gritty and stylish 1970's police movie takes place in Marseille where the opening scene is on April 1st?

See Below for the answer.

ANSWER IS: the French Connection II. In the opening scenes of the movie, Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle (played by Gene Hackman) meets Henri Barthélémy (played by Bernard Fresson), in front of the gendarmarie in Marseille. Barthélémy is looking for drugs, where else but in a fish of course, based on a tip. He doesn't find any, as it's a Poisson d'Avril it is a joke played on the police, get it?

Anybody played any good "Poisson d'Avril" jokes or had one played on them?

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Thanks for the website 'Americans in France' for the original French Postcard image.

In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril - April Fish. Why else would we show you a picture of a fish rather than a house for sale in France!

Many a 1st April has been spent with me walking round completely oblivious to the fact I have a paper fish on my back, read on to learn why.

In all regions of France there will be a lot more Fish available and being bought for celebratory lunches, a bit like Pancake Day BUT with Fish!

Photo by OrigamiNate on Flickr.

Humour can be a bit hard to understand in another language, whether it’s a "knock knock" joke, or an inside joke that you’re not in on. Heureusement (fortunately), April Fool’s Day exists in France. That said, it has a different set of traditions and a very different name: April Fish or in French, Poisson d’arvil.

The holiday is celebrated with des plaisanteires et des canulars (jokes and pranks), but also by trying to accrocher un poisson de papier dans le dos de tes amis (stick paper fish on your friends’ backs)!

The name poisson d’avril comes from an old tradition dating back to 1564. La légende veut que (Legend has it that) the year used to start on April 1st, but was changed to January 1st by Charles IX. The old new year’s tradition involved a gift exchange, mais (but) some people n’étaient pas au courant du changement (were not aware of the change) and continued to exchange gifts on April 1st after le changement. Other people then used the occasion de se moquer d’eux (to make fun of them)!

But why fish? The old new year était pendant (was during) the end of le Carême (Lent). Christians would be fasting, but they could still eat fish. The joke of giving un faux poisson (a fake fish) began as une blague (a joke) on the old tradition of giving real fish as gifts. Donc le nom (Thus the name), poisson d’avril.

The tradition continues today and kids all over France will try to sneak up and accrocher un poisson papier dans le dos de ses amis. When the friend le découvre (finds out), the surprise is met with shouts of Poisson d’arvil! much the same way un gag similaire (a similar gag) would be met with April Fool’s! in the English speaking world.

Voici une liste de vocabulaire pour le poisson d’arvil:

Une plaisanterie – A joke

Une blague – A joke, a trick

Un canular – A prank

Un gag – A joke, a gag

Un poisson papier – A paper Fish

Poisson d’avril! – April Fools!

Accrother un poisson de papier dans le dos de quelqu’un – Stick a paper fish on someone’s back

Start your pranking out right and accrochez un poisson de papier dans le dos de quelqu’un!

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.