Pound steadies at 1.3495 after 0.7% sales

GBP/USD rose 0.16% to 1.3495, buoyed by UK March retail sales up 0.7% MoM, the strongest gain since Jan 2024.
Euro rose to 0.8680, but headwinds remain from Strait of Hormuz closure, oil and a 67% chance of an ECB June hike.
ING's Chris Turner says short‑dated yields stay firm, limiting dollar‑short positions, while DXY hovers around 99.15‑20 with upside to 99.50.
Upcoming cues include German Ifo expectations (forecast 85.5) and the University of Michigan sentiment reading, which could sway dollar and market direction.