|

GBP/USD analysis: trouble in paradise, expect a gap lower this time

GBP/USD Current price: 1.2969

  • The Times reported over the weekend that four more UK ministers could resign.
  • No Brexit deal at sight and the clock keeps ticking.

The GBP/USD pair lost the 1.3000 level to close around 1.2970, in a combination of mixed local data and mounting Brexit tensions.  UK's Q3 GDP came as expected, with the economy growing 0.6% in the three months to September according to preliminary estimates, although business investment for the same period fell sharply, down 1.2% against an expected 0.2% advance. Manufacturing and Industrial production were slightly better-than-expected in September, with the first increasing 0.2% and the second flat for the month. The kingdom's deficit shank more-than-expected, to £-2.340B£ from £-4.560B in August. Weighing on Sterling was the resignation of Jo Johnson, the Transport minister and brother of Boris Johnson. The Times reported over the weekend that four more ministers who back remaining in the EU could resign over Brexit tensions. The same newspaper also said that EU  had rejected May's plan for an independent mechanism to oversee Britain's departure from any temporary customs arrangement it agrees. There are no data scheduled in the UK for this Monday, but Brexit-related news are likely to keep coming. While the market's reaction has been moderating through time these last few days, the pair could gap lower at the weekly opening given no progress toward a Brexit deal.

Ahead of the weekly opening, the daily chat shows that the pair is currently struggling with a mild bearish 20 DMA, as the Momentum indicator hovers around its mid-line and the RSI extends its decline into negative ground, all of which leans the risk toward the downside without confirming it just yet. In the 4 hours chart, the bearish strength is even clearer, as the 20 SMA gains downward traction over 100 pips above the current level, while the pair settled below a directionless 200 EMA. Technical indicators in this last time-frame hold near oversold readings as the pair closed a handful of pips below its weekly low of 1.2957, now the immediate support.

Support levels: 1.2955 1.2920 1.2880    

Resistance levels:  1.3000 1.3040 1.3085

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

GBP/USD trades with caution above 1.3200 amid UK political chaos

GBP/USD regains the 1.3200 level in early Europe on Monday, failing to fill up the bearish opening gap. UK PM Keir Starmer is set to announce his exit plan later today. That continues to undermine the British Pound amid renewed haven demand for the US Dollar.

EUR/USD struggles above 1.1450 amid concerns over Iran deal progress

EUR/USD stays defensive above 1.1450 in the European trading hours on Monday. Concerns about progress for the US-Iran peace deal and expectations of higher US interest rates keep the US Dollar supported against the Euro. ECB President Lagarde is set to speak later on Monday.  

Gold sticks to modest gains; bulls seem hesitant amid Fed hike bets, Iran risks

Gold attracts some buyers at the start of a new week, and seems to have snapped a three-day losing streak to a more than one-week low, touched last Friday. Crude Oil prices turn lower following a modest bullish gap after mediators Qatar and Pakistan announced a formal 60-day roadmap aimed at securing a final US-Iran peace deal. This helps ease concerns around inflation and higher interest rates, offering some support to the precious metal.

Breaking: Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz amid ceasefire deal violation
Iran says it is closing the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the United States (US) and Israel of violating the ceasefire. According to Iran, the decision came over the continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy issued a warning to all vessels: "Do not approach the Strait of Hormuz; otherwise, your security will be jeopardized."
Cardano: Whale accumulation offers limited relief

Cardano (ADA) is trading near $0.158 on Monday after a steep 14% correction in the previous week. While on-chain data from Santiment indicates that some large holders accumulated ADA during the recent sell-off, derivatives market indicators remain mixed.

Regime change: Inside Kevin Warsh's first move to make the Fed unreadable on purpose

The rate did not move. That was the least interesting thing about Kevin Warsh's first meeting in charge of the Fed. The FOMC held its benchmark at 3.50%-3.75% for the fourth straight meeting, exactly as priced, and then the new chair used his first press conference to dismantle the machinery the market has leaned on for a decade.