GBP/USD struggling to sustain moves beyond 1.2300 handle
|The GBP/USD pair once again ran through some fresh offers near 1.2300 handle and has now retreated to 1.2275-70 region.
The US Dollar selling pressure seems to have stalled following the release of better-than-expected weekly jobless claims data that showed initial claims for the week ended Jan. 6 rose less-than-expected to 247K as against consensus estimates of 255K and previous week's 237K (revised higher from 235K previously reported).
Adding to this, hawkish comments from Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker supporting expectations of three Fed rate-hikes in 2017 further collaborated towards restricting further greenback downslide.
The pair, however, held on to marginal daily gains in wake of St. Louis Fed President James Bullard's (non-voter) forecast for only one Fed rate-hike in year.
Moreover, fading optimism over stronger US economic growth under the incoming Trump administration, following Wednesday's disappointment Donald Trump's first news conference as President-elect, continued weighing on the greenback and is helping to the pair to hold closer to weekly highs.
Technical levels to watch
Immediate downside support is seen near 1.2240 level below which the pair is likely to drift back to 1.2200 handle, en-route its next support near 1.2155-50 region. On the upside, 1.2300-1.2310 area remains immediate strong hurdle, which if conquered could trigger a fresh bout of short-covering and might lift the pair beyond 1.2400 round figure mark, towards testing 50-day SMA strong resistance near 1.2425-30 region.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.