|

GBP/USD analysis: Brexit-related fears to keep weighing on the Pound

GBP/USD Current price: 1.2770

  • Brexit uncertainty, the main reason for lackluster economic growth.
  • UK employment data to be out this week but no fireworks expected there.

The GBP/USD pair fell to 1.2722, its lowest since June 2017, as the Pound remained undermined by Brexit-related fears, unable to attract investors after a batch of mostly positive data. According to the official releases, the UK preliminary Q2 GDP expanded as expected 0.4% QoQ, matching the market's forecast, and better than the previous 0.2%. Additionally, the June Total Trade Balance deficit shrunk to £-1.861B from a previous £-3.141B. In the same month, Industrial Production expanded 0.4% in and Manufacturing Production also rose 0.4%. UK Finance Minister Hammond attributed the lackluster economic expansion to uncertainty over Brexit but added that chances are that a Brexit trade deal will be achieved. The UK will release this Tuesday fresh employment figures, with the ILO unemployment rate seen steady at 4.2% and wages' growth in line with the recent modest advances. The pair fell for a third consecutive week and for nine days in-a-row, although there are no signs that indicate downward exhaustion, given that in the daily chart, technical indicators maintain their strong downward slopes, with the RSI currently at 23. The 20 DMA is over 200 pips above the current level, bearish, losing relevance for intraday trading. In the 4 hours chart, the pair also presents a bearish stance, with the 20 SMA heading south around 1.2865, the Momentum indicator consolidating in negative territory after a modest upward correction, and the RSI indicator hovering around 24. The mentioned level is a potential target in the case of a due correction.

Support levels: 1.2720 1.2680 1.2645                                                                                       

Resistance levels: 1.2795 1.2830 1.2865  

View Live Chart for the GBP/USD

Author

Valeria Bednarik

Valeria Bednarik was born and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her passion for math and numbers pushed her into studying economics in her younger years.

More from Valeria Bednarik
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD eases from one-month high; holds above 0.7000 amid softer USD

AUD/USD pulls back slightly after hitting a fresh one-month high in the Asian session on Monday as bulls turn cautious ahead of the latest Australian consumer inflation figures and the crucial FOMC decision later this week. Meanwhile, expectations of another RBA rate hike in November support the Aussie. Moreover, a softer US Dollar helps the currency pair hold above the 0.7000 psychological mark.

USD/JPY extends recovery from one-month low beyond 157.00

USD/JPY kicks off the week on a positive note, building on Friday's modest bounce from the 156.00 neighborhood, or a one-month low amid some repositioning ahead of key central bank events and data risks. The Fed and the BoJ will announce their policy decisions on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. This, along with the release of Advance US Q3 GDP and the PCE Price Index on Thursday, should provide some meaningful impetus to the currency pair.

Gold struggles below $4,000 as oil-driven inflation fears reaffirm Fed hike bets

Gold attracts follow-through selling at the start of the new week, trading below $4,000 during the Asian session and near a three-month low. Higher energy prices continue to fuel inflation fears and reinforce US rate-hike expectations, undermining the non-yielding bullion. Bears, however, might refrain from placing aggressive bets ahead of the crucial FOMC meeting and other key central bank events this week.

Week ahead: Central bank and earnings bonanza could roil markets

After joining the rate-hike club in September, the Federal Reserve looks set to stand pat in October, waiting to assess more data before deciding to hike again. Whilst this isn’t an unusual move for a central bank, it somewhat contradicts Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s new mantra of data dependency and zero forward guidance.

CFTC Report: WTI rally runs ahead of positioning
The week in one sentence: WTI prices surged while speculative longs were cut in the week to October 20, creating the clearest price/positioning divergence. Sterling and the Canadian Dollar led the constructive currency shift, while Yen longs also rebuilt. Speculators turned less constructive on the WTI, reducing their net exposure to around 89.3K contracts.
What November 3 means for the Fed's rate path and the US Dollar

The USD faces a decisive period ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While markets anticipate another interest rate increase from the Fed in December, the battle for control of Congress could reshape fiscal policy expectations and, indirectly, the path of US monetary policy in 2027.