Sterling climbs for first session in four versus greenback

Sterling rose in American trade versus the dollar following earlier developments from Britain, including commentary by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney on the bank stress test results and the financial stability report by the BoE, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell spoke as well earlier today in New York. 

As of 06:38 GMT, GBP/USD rose 0.68% to 1.2834, with an intraday high at 1.2844, and a low at 1.2733. 

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said today ahead of the British Parliament that the current Brexit deal is the best course available to Britain to maintain the economy in a good place,

May believes the deal deepens the economic and security relations between Britain and the EU, adding her government won't be able to sign a trade deal with the EU until after the official exit. 

US Growth, Trade, Housing Data 

US GDP growth clocked in at 3.5% according the second reading for the third quarter, slightly missing estimates of 3.6%, and the same as the first reading, while also below the second quarter's 4.2%. 

US goods trade balance showed a deficit of $77.2 billion in October, up from $76.3 billion in September, while wholesale inventories rose 0.7%, accelerating from 0.4% in September and above estimates of 0.5%. 

New home sales fell 8.9% to an annualized 544 thousand units, compared to a 1% increase in September to 597 thousand, while analysts expected a 4% increase to 575 thousand, while the Richmond manufacturing index receded to 14 from 15 in November, missing estimates of 16.