EUR/GBP retreats from daily highs on mixed EU and UK data

EUR/GBP reversed its course after hitting a daily high of 0.8730, retreating toward the 0.8700 figure in the mid-North American session after economic data from the Eurozone (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) favored the latter. At the time of writing, the cross is seen trading at around 0.8700s for a loss of 0.14%.

Cross pair nears 0.8700 amid EU GDP contraction, strong UK employment ahead of UK CPI

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the UE contracted by 0.1% QoQ as expected in Q3 on the second estimate, and in yearly figures came at 0.1% aligned with estimates, signaling the economy is slowing down amid more than 400 basis points of tightening by the European Central Bank (ECB). Nevertheless, employment data from the bloc suggested the labor market is tightening, which could warrant the ECB could keep the door open for additional tightening.

On the UK front, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed employment figures, which came as expected, though Average Earnings, including bonuses, from three months to date on a yearly basis rose 7.9%, exceeding forecasts of 7.4%, but below August’s 8.2%. That could warrant further action by the Bank of England (BoE), though recent commentary from its Chief Economist Huw Pill suggested they would not need to raise rates further.

Analysts at Rabo Bank expect the EUR/GBP to tumble below 0.8700, based “on the back of weak German economic data and our house view that the Eurozone may already be in a technical recession.”

Meanwhile, traders' focus shifted to the UK’s inflation report on Wednesday, with CPI in October on an annual basis expected to dip to 4.8% from 6.7%, and core is seen at 5.8% from 6.1%. Monthly figures for CPI is seen at 0.1%, down from September’s 0.5% jump.

EUR/GBP Price Analysis: Technical outlook

The Euro is extending its losses against the Pound Sterling as economic growth faltered on the bloc. Hence, the pair is testing a three-month-old support trendline that was briefly broken on November 3, as the pair dropped to a three-week low of 0.8649 before buyers reclaimed the 0.8680 area, back above the aforementioned trendline. Nevertheless, at the time of writing the EUR/GBP is testing the latter, ann a sustained break could open the door to test the 200-day moving average (DMA) at 0.8684, followed by the 50-DMA at 0.8663.