By Bo Nielsen Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The pound rose for a fourth day against the dollar, its longest run of gains since November, after Bank of England policy maker Andrew Sentance was cited as saying interest rates may have to increase this year. The British currency also climbed versus the euro and the yen after the Guardian newspaper reported Sentance as saying the bank has done enough to stimulate the economy. The yen fell against all 16 of its most-traded peers tracked by Bloomberg before fourth-quarter earnings reports this week from companies including Intel Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., which some analysts say will bolster stocks. Australia’s dollar traded near an eight-week high against the U.S. currency on speculation a report tomorrow will show payrolls increased for a fourth month. “The comments from Sentance gave a sniff of a turn in the U.K. rate cycle and that lifted the pound,” said Adam Cole, the London-based global head of currency strategy at Royal Bank of Canada. “It’s a bit premature in our view but the comments moved the markets.” The pound climbed to $1.6219 as of 8:39 a.m. in London, from $1.6164 yesterday in New York, for its longest sequence of gains since the five days through Nov. 9. It strengthened to 89.30 pence per euro, from 89.63 pence, and appreciated to 148.04 yen, from 147.06. The Bank of England may adopt a “wait-and-see” approach to review the effectiveness of its quantitative-easing program, Sentance said, according to the Guardian. Policy makers have to consider raising rates as “there are global influences such as oil and commodity prices and the impact of the exchange rate, which can lead to speed limits for the rate of growth,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. Short-sterling futures rose as traders pared bets that the Bank of England will keep its benchmark rate at a record low of 0.5 percent. The rate on the contract expiring in June increased 2 basis points to 0.84 percent.

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