GBP/USD Forecast: Pound Sterling remains vulnerable on broad USD strength
- GBP/USD trades slightly above 1.3400 in the European morning on Monday.
- The USD gathers strength after the EU and the US reached a framework trade deal.
- The pair could extend its slide in case 1.3400 support fails.
After posting large losses on Thursday and Friday, GBP/USD struggles to stage a rebound on Monday and trades in negative territory, slightly above 1.3400. The pair's technical outlook suggests that the bearish bias remains intact in the short term.
British Pound PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the weakest against the US Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.71% | 0.08% | 0.40% | 0.16% | 0.79% | 0.69% | 0.30% | |
| EUR | -0.71% | -0.65% | -0.28% | -0.55% | 0.08% | -0.02% | -0.41% | |
| GBP | -0.08% | 0.65% | 0.18% | 0.10% | 0.73% | 0.63% | 0.24% | |
| JPY | -0.40% | 0.28% | -0.18% | -0.24% | 0.34% | 0.26% | 0.03% | |
| CAD | -0.16% | 0.55% | -0.10% | 0.24% | 0.60% | 0.53% | 0.14% | |
| AUD | -0.79% | -0.08% | -0.73% | -0.34% | -0.60% | -0.10% | -0.48% | |
| NZD | -0.69% | 0.02% | -0.63% | -0.26% | -0.53% | 0.10% | -0.39% | |
| CHF | -0.30% | 0.41% | -0.24% | -0.03% | -0.14% | 0.48% | 0.39% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
The US Dollar (USD) outperforms its rivals as fears over an economic downturn in the United States (US) ease. The European Union (EU) and the US announced over the weekend that they have reached a framework trade deal that sets a blanket 15% tariff on goods traded between them. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that they will not impose retaliatory tariffs and said they will invest $600 billion in the US on top of existing expenditures.
Furthermore, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the US and China are expected to extend their tariff truce by another three months ahead of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng's scheduled meeting in Stockholm on Monday.
Despite the broad-based USD strength, however, GBP/USD's downside remains limited. The EU-US trade agreement seems to be causing the Euro to weaken, with investors reassessing the possibility of one more European Central Bank (ECB) rate cut this year. Hence, the sharp decline seen in the EUR/GBP cross suggests that Pound Sterling captures capital outflows out of the Euro.
The economic calendar will not feature any high-tier data releases on n Monday. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) will announce monetary policy decisions.
GBP/USD Technical Analysis
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the 4-hour chart stays below 40, reflecting the bearish stance.
On the downside, 1.3400 (Fibonacci 61.8% retracement of the latest uptrend) aligns as the first support level before 1.3340 (100-day SMA) and 1.3300 (Fibonacci 78.6% retracement). Looking north, resistance levels could be spotted at 1.3470 (Fibonacci 50% retracement), 1.3500 (100-period SMA) and 1.3540-1.3550 (Fibonacci 38.2% retracement, 200-period SMA).
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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Author
Eren Sengezer
FXStreet
As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.
