How the pound has fallen

Sterling has fallen dramatically against pretty much every other serious currency in the world, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Here’s the evidence.

I mentioned in my editor's letter this week (here for subscribers: Why the pound is so weak) that one of the most overlooked factors affecting the performance of the UK economy in the last five years has been the collapse of our currency against pretty much every other serious currency in the world and the inflation that has caused.

I mentioned a few of the currencies that have soared against sterling - Singapore dollar is up 59%; the Brunei dollar 53%; the Canadian dollar 46%; the New Zealand dollar 43%; the Thai baht 42%; the euro 23%; and the US dollar 21%.

But I think that some of you might be interested to see the full extent of the sterling rout. The third column shows you how much the currency has risen, in percentage terms, against sterling since 17 January 2007.

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Any currencies denoted in red (see the very bottom of the list) have fallen against the pound. There are very few of them and those that there are, are not ones it is really much of a triumph to have outperformed. Think the Syrian pound and the Argentinian peso.

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GoldXAU237.4-0.23-0.156.994.47
SilverXAG213.86-0.24-3.0716.92.48
PalladiumXPD130.830.05-5.066.67-4.4
Japanese YenJPY87.0100.64-2.631.29
Papua New Guinea KinaPGK79.32-0.230.45-3.75-2.13
PlatinumXPT75.350.14-0.3812.852.64
Swiss FrancCHF64.770.061.082.58-2.25
Australian DollarAUD59.980.11-0.95-3.11-2.14
Singapore DollarSGD53.99-0.111.150.311.08
Brunei DollarBND53.99-0.091.130.371.03
Chinese RenminbiCNY51.7-0.081.65-1.22-0.64
Colombian PesoCOP50.87-0.230.61-4.09-3
Peruvian New SolPEN50.56-0.231.4-1.611.45
Uruguayan PesoUYU49.37-0.235.554.83-3.98
Laotian KipLAK49.150.440.9-2.27-0.83
Canadian DollarCAD45.02-0.21-0.56-0.55-1.01
Philippine PesoPHP44.670.111.59-1.862.1
Paraguay GuaraniPYG43.79-0.230.58-4.32-3.78
New Zealand DollarNZD43.790.04-0.56-0.84-1.94
Slovakian KorunaSKK43.30.130.543.3-1.57
West Samoan TalaWST42.34-0.34-0.48-2.32-1.86
Thai Baht OnshoreTHO42.29-0.131.260.07-0.84
Thai BahtTHB42.25-0.161.260.01-0.87
Bolivian BolivianoBOB41.14-0.232.09-3.06-1.39
Malaysian RinggitMYR40.70.31.011.02-0.41
Chilean PesoCLP39.99-0.230.390.461.09
Tonga Pa'angaTOP39.43-0.33-1.48-2.84-2.75
Norwegian KroneNOK39.080.011.614.260.39
Czech KorunaCZK38.840.26-0.425.29-1.66
Taiwanese DollarTWD36.98-0.051.01-0.5-0.34
NEW IRAQI DINARNID36.92-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Azerbaijani ManatAZN35.8-0.250.61-3-1.22
Israeli ShekelILS35.70.153.121.7-2.56
Solomon Islands DollarSBD31.48-0.190.47-3.18-1.55
Moldovan LeuMDL30.57-0.032.34-1.26-4.76
Swedish KronaSEK29.76-0.050.282.281.19
Mauritian RupeeMUR28.79-0.71-1.32-2.35-6.5
Brazilian RealBRL28.01-0.230.56-3.63-9.76
Costa Rican ColonCRC26.93-0.350.65-2.78-0.2
IMF Special Drawing RightsXDR26.14-0.230.19-0.7-1.39
Georgian LariGEL26-0.080.03-3.35-2.76
Kuwaiti DinarKWD25.7-0.070.55-2.74-2.23
Libyan DinarLYD25.59-0.231.49-0.93-1.35
Cambodian RielKHR23.810.281.68-0.94-1.45
Latvian LatsLVL23.770.130.523.27-1.22
Estonian KroonEEK23.530.130.543.3-1.57
EuroEUR23.530.140.523.31-1.57
Irish PuntIEP23.530.130.553.3-1.56
French FrancFRF23.530.130.543.3-1.56
Italian LiraITL23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Austrian SchillingATS23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Andorran PesetaADP23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Spanish PesetaESP23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Belgian FrancBEF23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Luxembourg FrancLUF23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Greek DrachmaGRD23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Portuguese EscudoPTE23.530.130.543.3-1.57
Finnish MarkkaFIM23.520.130.543.3-1.57
Netherlands (Dutch) GuilderNLG23.520.130.543.3-1.57
German MarkDEM23.520.130.543.3-1.57
Lithuanian LitasLTL23.510.130.523.3-1.58
Bulgarian LevBGN23.430.130.513.29-1.59
Slovenian TolarSIT23.420.130.543.3-1.57
Danish KroneDKK23.420.130.463.05-1.84
Bosnia & Herzegovinan MarkaBAM23.390.120.563.34-1.61
French Polynesian FrancXPF23.310.130.563.34-1.6
Cape Verde EscudoCVE23.28-0.230.334.22-2.03
CFA Franc BEACXAF23.12-0.10.343.11-1.83
Moroccan DirhamMAD23.050.010.512.08-1.58
CFA FRANC BCEAOXOF22.89-0.280.152.92-2
Hong Kong DollarHKD22.81-0.240.64-3-1.3
Lebanese PoundLBP22.8-0.10.77-3.09-1.26
Macau PatacaMOP22.79-0.240.64-3-1.3
Jordanian DinarJOD22.23-0.20.95-2.72-1.19
El Salvador ColonSVC22.05-0.230.67-3.06-1.39
Saudi RiyalSAR22-0.230.64-3.06-1.38
Qatari RiyalQAR22-0.230.66-3.05-1.37
Bahraini DinarBHD21.99-0.220.64-3.06-1.39
United States DollarUSD21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Bermudian DollarBMD21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Ecuadorean SucreECS21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Panamanian BalboaPAB21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Aruban GuilderAWG21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Cuban PesoCUP21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Netherlands Antillean GuilderANG21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Djiboutian FrancDJF21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Eritrean NakfaERN21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
EAST CARIBBEAN DOLLARXCD21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Cayman Islands DollarKYD21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Omani RialOMR21.98-0.230.59-3.05-1.39
UAE DirhamAED21.98-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Guyanese DollarGYD21.92-0.232.39-3.06-1.04
Macedonian DenarMKD21.72-0.234.740.42-2.33
Croatian KunaHRK20.9-0.03-1.492.65-2.07
Belizean DollarBZD20.760.27-4.42-7.37-5.18
Trinidad & Tobago DollarTTD20.65-0.230.17-3.81-1.54
Guatemalan QuetzalGTQ18.33-0.231.9-3.99-2.81
Polish ZlotyPLN17.27-0.170.6150.17
Honduras LempiraHNL17-0.230.15-6.23-4.62
Madagascar AriaryMGA16.080.091.141.12-5.12
Indonesian RupiahIDR15.75-0.31-0.85-4.57-5.82
Afghanistan AfghaniAFN14.2-0.59-2.4-6.63-7.4
Egyptian PoundEGP13.91-0.290.4-3.68-2.42
Haitian GourdeHTG12.870.391.03-2.76-3.51
Yemeni RialYER12.84-0.230.64-2.95-1.27
Hungarian ForintHUF11.89-0.451.935.874.26
Albanian LekALL10.660.2202.48-1.32
Mozambique New MeticalMZN9.95-0.92-0.16-6.46-5.3
Mauritanian OuguiyaMRO9.93-0.231.31-4.19-4.34
Algerian DinarDZD9.770.050.28-1.2-6.96
Armenian DramAMD9.24-0.110.82-2.07-5.2
Rwandan FrancRWF7.15-0.26-0.79-4.96-4.36
Bangladesh TakaBDT5.39-0.171.34-2.38-0.7
Russian RubleRUB5.18-0.01-0.012.08-5.63
Mexican PesoMXN3.99-0.30.08-0.680.64
Somali ShillingSOS3.5-0.230.61-3.06-1.39
South Korean WonKRW3.38-0.081.580.281.73
Tunisian DinarTND3.05-0.060.550.96-3.73
Sri Lankan RupeeLKR3-0.313.140.73-1.58
Dominican Republic PesoDOP2.95-1.03-0.17-4.51-3.18
Mongolian TugrikMNT2.76-0.451.29-6.07-6.34
Liberian DollarLRD2.75-0.231.31-0.17-1.64
Angolan KwanzaAOA2.6-0.350.6-3.13-1.52
Gambian DalasiGMD2.14-2.73-1.75-9.5-12.26
Nepalese RupeeNPR1.890.075.491.29-3.77
Indian RupeeINR1.79-0.362.640.9-4.12
Bhutan NgultrumBTN1.79-0.362.640.9-4.12
Suriname DollarSRD1.47-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
Maldives RufiyaaMVR1.39-0.680.05-3.31-1.77
Kazakhstan TengeKZT1.31-0.140.15-3.48-3.24
Kenyan ShillingKES0.46-0.170.4-4.14-3.48
South African RandZAR0.36-0.42-4.53-9.08-11.57
Lesotho LotiLSL0.36-0.42-4.53-9.08-11.57
Namibian DollarNAD0.36-0.42-4.53-9.08-11.57
Swaziland LilangeniSZL0.36-0.42-4.53-9.08-11.57
Gibraltar PoundGIP00000
Falkland Islands PoundFKP00000
ST. HELENA POUNDSHP00000
Kyrgyzstan SomKGS-0.18-0.230.21-2.9-2.42
Nigerian NairaNGN-0.78-0.390.81-1.39-1.34
Tanzanian ShillingTZS-0.84-0.510.26-2.66-0.73
Zambian KwachaZMK-1.06-1.36-3.59-9.26-0.99
Guinean FrancGNF-3.04-0.233.52-0.29-0.05
Turkish LiraTRY-3.38-0.220.38-2.96-2.2
Vietnamese DongVND-6.13-0.230.66-3.06-1.51
Syrian PoundSYP-6.480.4-0.93-8.37-16.81
Nicaraguan CordobaNIO-7.570.060.5-3.95-3.47
Iranian RialIRR-7.890.390.89-2.54-0.77
Romanian LeuRON-8.280.21-1.212.95-5.81
Jamaican DollarJMD-8.39-0.230.13-4.33-4.5
Serbian DinarRSD-11.190.084.488.52-1.92
Tajikistani SomoniTJS-12.11-0.230.65-3.04-1.5
Ugandan ShillingUGX-13.710.06-2.48-7.19-3.97
Sierra Leone LeoneSLL-16.46-0.230.66-3.1-1.11
Burundi FrancBIF-17.01-0.46-0.44-5.32-7.84
Argentine PesoARS-20.29-0.23-0.16-6.32-7.96
Pakistani RupeePKR-22.13-0.26-0.22-4.02-6.23
Uzbekistani SoumUZS-22.28-0.23-0.34-6.62-6.48
Ukrainian HryvniaUAH-24.39-0.290.16-3.84-3.07
Congolese FrancCDF-29.42-0.260.68-2.89-0.62
Iceland KronaISK-29.9-0.05-0.180.092.32
Venezuelan Bolivar FuerteVEF-39.01-0.230.64-3.06-1.39
New Ghana CediGHS-40.22-0.181.120.46-5.02
Ethiopian BirrETB-40.36-0.250.26-4.17-4.6
Malawian KwachaMWK-41.880.58-0.87-10.37-44.09
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Seychelles RupeeSCR-44.270.15-0.16115.75
Sao Tome & Principe DobraSTD-57.72-3.33-1.89-0.8-5.65
Myanmar KyatMMK-99.080.412.820.45-4.41
Merryn Somerset Webb

Merryn Somerset Webb started her career in Tokyo at public broadcaster NHK before becoming a Japanese equity broker at what was then Warburgs. She went on to work at SBC and UBS without moving from her desk in Kamiyacho (it was the age of mergers).

After five years in Japan she returned to work in the UK at Paribas. This soon became BNP Paribas. Again, no desk move was required. On leaving the City, Merryn helped The Week magazine with its City pages before becoming the launch editor of MoneyWeek in 2000 and taking on columns first in the Sunday Times and then in 2009 in the Financial Times

Twenty years on, MoneyWeek is the best-selling financial magazine in the UK. Merryn was its Editor in Chief until 2022. She is now a senior columnist at Bloomberg and host of the Merryn Talks Money podcast -  but still writes for Moneyweek monthly. 

Merryn is also is a non executive director of two investment trusts – BlackRock Throgmorton, and the Murray Income Investment Trust.