UK's Theresa May plays down sterling weakness: Bloomberg

British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech on the government's plans for Brexit at Lancaster House in London on Jan 17, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prime Theresa May played down recent falls in sterling in a television interview on Thursday (Jan 19), saying data since Britain voted to leave the European Union pointed to underlying strength in the economy.

"We have seen different movements in the pound over the last six months. But what we have also seen through the other economic data ... is the strength of the UK economy," May said in an interview with Bloomberg TV when asked if she feared the pound could hit parity against the US dollar.

Sterling fell to one of its lowest levels against the dollar in more than 30 years on Monday (Jan 16) in the run-up to a major speech by May on Britain's future relations with the EU.

May also said Britain would publish plans to tackle the potential threat to national security from foreign investment in key infrastructure.

"We are looking specifically at the question of critical national infrastructure and at the question of national security but in this area as in other areas we will be publishing proposals in due course," she said.

May also said she wanted to ensure financial services companies remained in London after Brexit.

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