Sterling gives up three-week high after weak data

Sterling fell in European trade against dollar for another session away from three-week highs on profit-taking and following disappointing UK data. 

GBP/USD fell 0.4% to 1.2506, after closing down 0.5% yesterday, the second loss in three days away from three-week highs at 1.2669. 

The dollar index rose over 0.1% on Tuesday on track for the first profit in three days,with the greenback improving on risk aversion as US-China tensions brew over anew. 

Earlier UK data showed growth at 1.8% in May, missing estimates of 5.5%, after the economy shrank by 20.3% in April, the worst pace ever. 

The data indicates the scale of damage sustained by the economy due to Covid 19 and the need for further stimuli.