UK Services PMI posted 57.2 in January compared to 55.8 in December. Analysts were predicting rise to 56.6. Growth has now been recorded for 25 months in succession, and panellists attributed the latest expansion to the start-up of new projects, higher marketing activity and rising levels of new business.
Companies were suitably encouraged by these trends to hire additional staff at the joint second-fastest rate in the survey history, using their additional capacity to try and clear backlogs and prepare for further business expansion in the coming months.
Sterling added few points after the data and is currently being traded around 1.5170 area. Later today, in the US session, ADP job figures and Non-Manufacturing PMI data is scheduled for a release.