The EUR/GBP cross edged higher through the early European session and refreshed daily tops, around the 0.8855-60 region in the last hour. The cross built on the previous day's bounce from the vicinity of the 0.8800 mark, or fresh eight-month lows and gained some follow-through traction on Thursday. The British pound's relative underperformance against its European counterpart could be attributed to the imposition of fresh COVID restrictions in the United Kingdom.
The UK government announced new measures to clamp down on travel from 22-high risk nations. Travellers from those countries, who could not be refused entry, would now have to quarantine for 10 days in government-provided accommodation. Adding to this, Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated the COVID-19 lockdown in England would last until March 8.