Sterling on track for second weekly profit against dollar

Sterling tilted higher in American trade past 1.32 versus dollar, following a spate of data from the US, and amid a lack thereof from Britain. 

As of 06:45 GMT, GBP/USD rose 0.08% to 1.3206 from the opening of 1.3195, with a two-week high at 1.3260, and a session-low at 1.3170. 

Earlier US data showed housing starts surged 13.7% in October to 1.290 million units, compared to a 3.2% decline in September to 1.135 million, while analysts expected a 5.6% rise to 1.190 million.

Building permits rose 5.9% to 1.297 million units, compared to a 3.7% drop in September to 1.225 million, beating expectations of a 2.0% rise to 1.250M. 

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the tax reform bill by a 227-205 margin, shifting the legislative final struggle to the Senate, amid concerns the upper house could delay the reforms supported by president Donald Trump, which would cut the corporate tax rate to 20% from 35%, until 2019.