GBP/USD Forecast and News
GBP/USD clings to small gains above 1.2550
Following Friday's volatile action, GBP/USD edges highs and trades in the green above 1.2550. Soft April jobs report from the US and the modest improvement seen in risk mood make it difficult for the US Dollar to gather strength.
Latest Pound Sterling News
GBP/USD Technical Overview
After spiking above 1.2600 on Friday, GBP/USD erased a large portion of its daily gains and closed the week near 1.2550, where the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) is located. In case the pair makes a daily close above that level and starts using it as support, buyers could remain interested. In this scenario, 1.2600 (Fibonacci 50% retracement of the latest downtrend) could be seen as next resistance before 1.2665 (Fibonacci 61.8% retracement) and 1.2700 (psychological level, static level).
If GBP/USD fails to flip 1.2550 into support, sellers could take action. In this case, supports could be seen at 1.2500 (psychological level, static level), 1.2470 (100-period SMA on the 4-hour chart) and 1.2445 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement).
Fundamental Overview
GBP/USD closed the previous week marginally higher and seems to have stabilized at around 1.2550 to start the new week. The pair needs to confirm 1.2550 as support to continue to push higher in the near term.
The US Dollar (USD) came under heavy selling pressure in the early American session on Friday with the immediate reaction to disappointing data releases for April. Heading into the weekend, however, hawkish comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials helped the currency erase its losses and forced GBP/USD to retrace its daily rally.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Unemployment Rate edged higher to 3.9% in April from 3.8% in March. In the same period, Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) rose 175,000, missing the market expectation of 243,000 by a wide margin. Other data from the US showed that the ISM Services PMI dropped into contraction territory at 49.4 in April from 51.4.
Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee downplayed the weak labor market data on Friday and said that current numbers were solid. Later in the day, Fed Board of Governors member Michelle W. Bowman noted that she would be willing to raise rates further if data shows inflation progress has stalled or reversed.
The economic calendar will not offer high-impact data releases on Monday. Hence, the risk perception could impact the USD's valuation and GBP/USD's action later in the day. After trading mixed in the Asian session, US stock index futures turned positive on the day in the early European session. A bullish opening in Wall Street could support GBP/USD during the American trading hours.
On Thursday, the Bank of England will announce monetary policy decisions.
SPECIAL WEEKLY GBP/USD FORECAST
Interested in weekly GBP/USD forecasts? Our experts make weekly updates forecasting the next possible moves of the Pound-Dollar pair. Here you can find the most recent forecast by our market experts:
GBP/USD: Recovering ahead of BoE, UK GDP data Premium
The British Pound (GBP) extended its march north against the US Dollar (USD) throughout the week, motivating GBP/USD to break above the 1.2600 figure for the first time since mid-April.
GBP/USD Big Picture
GBP/USD Bullish Themes
GBP/USD BEARISH Themes
Latest GBP Analysis
Editors' picks
EUR/USD holds above 1.0750 to start the week
EUR/USD trades in positive territory above 1.0750 in the European session on Monday. The US Dollar struggles to find demand following Friday's disappointing labor market data and helps the pair hold its ground.
GBP/USD clings to small gains above 1.2550
Following Friday's volatile action, GBP/USD edges highs and trades in the green above 1.2550. Soft April jobs report from the US and the modest improvement seen in risk mood make it difficult for the US Dollar to gather strength.
USD/JPY inches higher to 153.70 amid a firmer US Dollar
USD/JPY could receive pressure due to revived expectations for the Fed’s interest rate cuts in 2024. US Nonfarm Payrolls reported fresh 175K jobs were added in April, lower than the estimated 243K. Japanese markets are closed on Monday due to a national holiday, with the possibility of intervention by authorities still present.
Gold price rebounds on downbeat NFP data, eyes on Fedspeak
Gold price (XAU/USD) snaps the two-day losing streak during the European session on Monday. The weaker-than-expected US employment reports have boosted the odds of a September rate cut from the US Fed.
WTI halts losing streak after Saudi Arabia raises Oil prices for June
West Texas Intermediate crude Oil price snaps its losing streak, trading around $78.20 per barrel during the Asian session on Monday. Oil prices increased after Saudi Arabia raised June crude prices for most regions.
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GBP/USD YEARLY FORECAST
How could GBP/USD move this year? Our experts make a GBP/USD update forecasting the possible moves of the pound-dollar pair during the whole year. Don't miss our 2024 GBP/USD forecast!
2024 GBP/USD FORECAST
In the GBP/USD Price Forecast 2024, our analyst, Dhwani Mehta, notes there are plenty of unknowns and looming uncertainties that make it difficult to convincingly predict the course of the Pound Sterling against the US Dollar (USD) in the year ahead. On both sides of the Atlantic, increased odds of a recession, a dovish pivot in the monetary policies and general elections are foreseen as the key factors driving the GBP/USD price action next year, barring any unprecedented geopolitical risks. Read more details about the forecast.
GBP/USD witnessed a rollercoaster ride in 2023 but the Pound Sterling managed to preserve the recovery gains seen in the first half of the year to a 15-month high of 1.3142.
MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL EVENTS IN 2024 FOR GBP/USD
BoE policymakers continue to push back against expectations of rate cuts next year. However, deteriorating economic performance prompted money markets to begin pricing in four 25 bps rate cuts starting from the summer, anticipating the key rate to be slashed from 5.25% to as low as 4.25% by the end of 2024. The first cut is expected as early as June, to 5.0%.
Even though the Bank of England largely shrugged off a 0.3% contraction in GDP for October, the prospect of a recession in the run-up to a 2024 national election remains high.
A general election is expected next year in the US and the UK, which could fuel intense volatility around the GBP/USD pair. Amidst looming inflation and growth concerns, the political developments on both sides of the Atlantic are likely to be closely followed.
Influential Institutions & People for the GBP/USD
The Pound VS Dollar can be seriously affected by news or the decisions taken by two main central banks:
The Bank of England (BoE)
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom. Established in 1694 and privately owned in the beginning, the Bank was nationalised in 1946 so now is completely owned by the UK government. BOE's main reason to be is to maintain monetary and financial stability in the country. Some of its other tasks are producing secure bank notes, operating asset purchase facility and keeping the inflation low and stable. The bank is overseen by the Court, named used to reffer the board of directors, and is accountable to Parliament and the public.
BOE Official Website, on Twitter and Facebook
The Federal Reserve Bank (Fed)
On the other
FED Official Website, on Twitter and Facebook
Andrew Bailey
Andrew Bailey is Governor of the Bank of England since 16 March 2020. He was announced as the new Governor of the BoE on 20 December 2019. Bailey was born in Leicester in 1959 and graduated from Queens' College with a BA in History and a PhD from the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge in 1985. Before becoming the Governor of the BOE, Andrew worked at the Bank in a number of areas, most recently as Executive Director for Banking Services and Chief Cashier, as well as Head of the Bank's Special Resolution Unit (SRU). Previous roles include Governor's Private Secretary, and Head of the International Economic Analysis Division in Monetary Analysis.
Bailey on BOE'S Profile and Wikipedia
Jerome Powell
Jerome Powell took office as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in February 2018, for a four-year term ending in February 2022. His term as a member of the Board of Governors will expire January 31, 2028. Born in Washington D.C., he received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University in 1975 and earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1979. Powell served as an assistant secretary and as undersecretary of the Treasury under President George H.W. Bush. He also worked as a lawyer and investment banker in New York City. From 1997 through 2005, Powell was a partner at The Carlyle Group.
Jerome Powell Fed's Profile and Wikipedia
BOE NEWS & ANALYSIS
ECB NEWS & ANALYSIS
About GBP/USD
The GBP/USD (or Pound / Dollar) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. The pair is also called 'The Cable', referring to the first Transatlantic cable that was crossing the Atlantic Ocean in order to connect Great Britain with the United States of America. This term originated in the mid-19th century, which makes it one of the oldest currency pairs.
Pound Sterling - US Dollar represents two economies: British and American (from United States of America). The Cable is a closely watched and widely traded currency pair where the Pound is the base currency and the US Dollar is the counter currency. For that reason, all the macroeconomic data related to the US and the UK affects the price of this pair. One of the events which affected most the volatility of the pound vs. dollar was Brexit.
Related pairs
EUR/USD
The EUR/USD (or Euro Dollar) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. This group also includes the following currency pairs: GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD and USD/CAD. The popularity of Euro Dollar is due to the fact that it gathers two main economies: the European and American (from United States of America) ones. This is a widely traded currency pair where the Euro is the base currency and the US Dollar is the counter currency. Since the EUR/USD pair consists of more than half of all the trading volume worldwide in the Forex Market, it is almost impossible for a gap to appear, let alone a consequent breakaway gap in the opposite direction.
Normally, the EUR/USD is very quiet during the Asian session because economic data that affects the fundamentals of those currencies is released in either the European or U.S. session. Once traders in Europe get to their desks a flurry of activity hits the tape as they start filling customer orders and jockey for positions. At noon activity slows down as traders step out for lunch and then picks back up again as the U.S. comes online.
USD/JPY
The USD/JPY (or US Dollar Japanese Yen) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. This group also includes the following currency pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD and USD/CAD. Japanese Yen has a low interest rate and is normally used in carry trades. This is the reason why is one of the most trades currencies worldwide. In the USD/JPY the US Dollar is the base currency and the Japanese Yen is the counter currency. The pair represents American (from United States of America) and Japanese economies.
Trading the USD/JPY currency pair is also known as trading the "ninja" or the "gopher", although this last name is more frequently used when referred to the GBP/JPY currency pair. The US Dollar Japanese Yen usually has a positive correlation with the following two pairs: USD/CHF and USD/CAD. The nature of this correlation is due to the fact that both currency pairs also use the US Dollar as the base currency, such as USD/JPY. The value of the pair tends to be affected when the two main central banks of each country, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed), face serious interest rate differential.