1.   Because the increase expected, companies said the pound is unlikely to rise enough to further crimp exports by making U.K. goods more expensive abroad.

2.   However, a slowing economy in the United States is beginning to crimp Indonesian exports.

3.   The Australian dollar fell as a rout in the Indonesian currency rekindled worry that an Asian slowdown may crimp Australian exports.

4.   The U.S. slowdown has also hurt efforts at recovery, crimping exports which have been the engine for growth in the past.