|

GBP/USD is under pressure after labour data

  • GBPUSD moves toward 2-month trough.

  • RSI and MACD tick south.

GBPUSD is diving toward the two-month low of 1.3260 following the release of disappointing UK labor market figures. The unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.8% in the three months to August, up from 4.7% in the previous quarter, while employment levels declined, adding pressure to the British pound.

The pair is nearing a medium-term ascending trendline, which may act as a support level. A potential rebound from this area could shift attention toward the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at 1.3370, followed by resistance at the mid-level of the Bollinger Band and the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) in the 1.3435–1.3475 zone.

However, a decisive break below the trendline would expose the 200-day SMA at 1.3190 and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the uptrend from 1.2100 to 1.3788, located at 1.3140. Such a move would likely neutralize the medium-term bullish outlook.

From a momentum perspective, the RSI is trending below the neutral 50 level, indicating weakening buying interest, while the MACD continues to extend its negative trajectory below both its signal and zero lines.

All in all, GBPUSD is at a critical juncture, with technical indicators pointing to increased downside risks. A sustained move below 1.3260 could open the way for a neutral phase.

Author

Melina Deltas, CFTe

Melina joined XM in December 2017 as an Investment Analyst in the Research department. She can clearly communicate market action, particularly technical and chart pattern setups.

More from Melina Deltas, CFTe
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD comes under pressure near 1.1600

EUR/USD is now facing increasing selling pressure, abandoning the area of recent daily highs and refocusing on the 1.1600 region amid decent losses for the day. The pair’s correction comes in response to the acceptable bounce in the US Dollar, while traders gear up for upcoming key data releases in the US.

GBP/USD recedes to 1.3140 on USD rebound

GBP/USD remains on the back foot on Friday, retreating to the 1.3140 region on the back of the marked upside impulse in the Greenback. In the meantime, worries about the UK’s fiscal discipline and political stability keep the British Pound under scrutiny, weighing on Cable. Adding to the noise, reports suggested PM Starmer and Chancellor Reeves have shelved plans to raise income tax rates.

Gold meets some contention just above $4,000

Gold trade with heavy losses, approaching the key $4,000 mark per troy ounce on the back of the marked bounce in the US Dollar, higher US Treasury yields across the curve and fading expectations for a Fed rate cut in December.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP sell-off persists amid low institutional and retail demand

Bitcoin is trading above $97,000 at the time of writing on Friday amid a sticky bearish wave in the broader cryptocurrency market. The sell-off extends to altcoins, with Ethereum and Ripple hovering below $3,200 and $2.30, respectively.

Weekly focus: Looking towards post-shutdown US data

The end of US government shutdown was not enough to drive a lasting recovery in markets' risk appetite, with equity and bond markets weakening towards the end of the week.

VeChain mainnet upgrade shifts consensus mechanism from PoA to DPoS as VET extends decline 

VeChain holds above $0.0150 as overhead pressure signals a 15% downside risk. VeChain migrates from Proof of Authority to Delegated Proof of Stake to power the network’s next growth phase.