Sterling advanced against the dollar in American trade following earlier data from the US, and amid a lack thereof from Britain on Friday.
As of 05:56 GMT, GBP/USD rose to 1.2722 from the opening of 1.2682, with an intraday high at 1.2744, and a low at 1.2676.
Earlier US data showed the preliminary readings for both manufacturing and services PMI down in June, while new home sales rose past expectations in May.
Markets now await Federal Open Market Committee member Jerome Powell's speech later today, titled "Central Clearing and Liquidity" at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Symposium on Central Clearing