Bengaluru, Sept. 15 -- The UK economy came to a halt in July. At the same time, the pound reached a crucial technical point in global currency markets. Weakness in manufacturing cancelled out modest gains from services and construction, raising concerns about sustained growth. Investors are closely watching monetary policy moves in both London and Washington to judge where the pound heads next.

UK Growth Flat in July The Office for National Statistics confirmed zero growth in July. That marked a slowdown from June, when the economy expanded modestly. Growth slowed further over the three months to July, signaling a fragile recovery. On an annual basis, the economy was still larger than last year, but the pace of activity clearly weakened....