Manufacturing output figures from the UK and Germany weakened the pound and bolstered the euro during forex trading yesterday (July 7th).The euro closed up 0.7 per cent against the pound after industrial production figures from Germany recorded a four per cent rise in May, the biggest jump seen in two years.Meanwhile, sterling was weakened by an unexpected drop in manufacturing output in May, dashing hopes that UK industry has responded positively to stimulus measures.The Financial Times economics reporter Daniel Pimlott said that the figures undermine any hope that Britain will see positive growth in gross domestic product for the second quarter of 2009.He added that the output will also put heavy pressure on the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) to keep the base rate at 0.5 per cent, the lowest rate seen in the bank's 315-year history.The MPC's next meeting will be held on July 9th and analysts broadly expect that it will decide to release an additional £25 billion into the economy in quantitative easing.