- GBP/USD fluctuates in a tight range near 1.2800 after posting small losses on Tuesday.
- The pair's bullish bias remains intact but the momentum weakens.
- Fed Chairman Powell will testify before House Financial Services Committee.
GBP/USD edged lower during the American trading hours on Tuesday and closed the day in negative territory. The pair holds steady near 1.2800 in the European session on Wednesday as investors refrain from taking large positions while awaiting the next fundamental driver.
British Pound PRICE This week
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies this week. British Pound was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.15% | 0.08% | 0.50% | -0.10% | 0.14% | 1.08% | 0.16% | |
| EUR | -0.15% | 0.13% | 0.68% | 0.07% | 0.15% | 1.27% | 0.37% | |
| GBP | -0.08% | -0.13% | 0.52% | -0.04% | 0.02% | 1.14% | 0.21% | |
| JPY | -0.50% | -0.68% | -0.52% | -0.60% | -0.34% | 0.74% | -0.29% | |
| CAD | 0.10% | -0.07% | 0.04% | 0.60% | 0.20% | 1.18% | 0.26% | |
| AUD | -0.14% | -0.15% | -0.02% | 0.34% | -0.20% | 1.12% | 0.19% | |
| NZD | -1.08% | -1.27% | -1.14% | -0.74% | -1.18% | -1.12% | -0.92% | |
| CHF | -0.16% | -0.37% | -0.21% | 0.29% | -0.26% | -0.19% | 0.92% |
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).
Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell presented the Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report and responded to questions before the Senate Banking Committee on the first day of his Congressional testimony on Tuesday.
Powell reiterated that it will not be appropriate to lower the policy rate until they gain greater confidence in inflation heading sustainably toward 2%. Assessing the developments in the job market, "the most recent labor market data sent a pretty clear signal that the labor market has cooled considerably," Powell said.
Following these remarks, the probability of the Fed leaving the policy rate unchanged in September stays near 25%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
Powell will testify before the House Financial Services Committee later in the day. Investors, however, are likely to await Thursday's June Consumer Price Index (CPI) data before deciding on the next direction for GBP/USD.
GBP/USD Technical Analysis
The Relative Strength Index edged higher to 60 after falling toward 50 late Tuesday, suggesting that the bullish bias remains intact, albeit lacking momentum.
In case GBP/USD continues to use 1.2800 (psychological level, static level) as support, 1.2850-1.2860 (static level, June 12 high) could be seen as next resistance before 1.2900 (psychological level, static level). If 1.2800 support fails, an extended slide toward 1.2750 (static level) and 1.2710 (20-day Simple Moving Average) could be seen.
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, aka ‘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.
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. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: Extra gains need to clear 0.6400
AUD/USD rose for the third day in a row, approaching the key 0.6400 resistance on the back of the acute pullback in the US Dollar amid mounting recession concerns and global trade war fear.
EUR/USD: Powell and the NFP will put the rally to the test
EUR/USD gathered extra steam and advanced to multi-month peaks near 1.1150, although the move fizzled out somewhat as the NA session drew to a close on Thursday.
Gold holds positive ground above $3,100, all eyes on US NFP data
Gold price recovers some lost ground to near $3,115 during the late American session on Thursday after facing some profit-taking in the previous session. Escalating concerns over a global trade war and ongoing geopolitical risks boost the Gold price, a traditional safe-haven asset.
Ethereum: Short-term holders may not impact ETH's price, Pectra mainnet upgrade set for May 7
Ethereum declined by 3% on Thursday as market participants continued to react to President Donald Trump's announcements regarding reciprocal tariffs. However, the selling pressure may not persist since most ETH short-term holders already sold their assets in March.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on the way
United States (US) President Donald Trump’s self-styled “Liberation Day” has finally arrived. After four straight failures to kick off Donald Trump’s “day one” tariffs that were supposed to be implemented when President Trump assumed office 72 days ago, Trump’s team is slated to finally unveil a sweeping, lopsided package of “reciprocal” tariffs.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.