UK Retail Sales miss but December holds up

GBPUSD, Daily             

Sterling shed about 30 pips versus the dollar and euro following the unexpected 1.9% m/m dive in retail sales, the biggest fall since 2011 and which came contrary to the median forecast for a 0.2% rise. This is a market mover as the consumer sector has been the driver of economic growth in the UK, and signs of weakness chimes with a declining pace of real income growth as rising inflation impacts. Cable has settled around 1.2290 versus pre-data levels above 1.2330. The pair remains sandwiched between its 20- and 50-day moving averages, at 1.2244 and 1.2399, respectively, both of which have a level profile, indicating a broadly directionless trend. Wednesday’s and Thursday’s lows at 1.2253 and 1.2257, ahead of the 20-day moving average at 1.2244, now mark a key near-term support zone. The risk remains for a return to sub-1.2000 levels on the back of Brexit concerns and expectations of a protracted Fed tightening cycle.

Meanwhile, GBPJPY also looks interesting as it breaks above the 200 DMA 141.00 and tries to break the 50 and 20 DMA area at 142.15. This could see a return to the 144.50 –145.50 zone. The Parabolic SAR has turned positive this week and the RSI remains neutral.  One to watch over the next few trading days.