GBP/JPY slides back beneath 140.00 as traders await Brexit update

GBP/JPY has slid back from earlier highs north of the 140.00 level to consolidate around 139.50.
The pair still trades in the green, however, as traders await the outcome of Brexit talks between Johnson and von der Leyen

Joel Frank Independent Analyst

GBP/JPY surged as high as the 140.30s on Wednesday, aided by positive comments from UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove who intimated that a compromise of the issue of fisheries might be possible. However, GBP softened during US trading hours amid a bout of profit-taking, as well as a dose of realism that Brexit talks remain in the balance, with numerous EU officials saying that the chances of a deal are slim over recent days. The pair slipped back beneath 140.00 and has since consolidated about the 139.50 mark, where it currently trades heading into the Wednesday FX market close.

Johnson/von der Leyen talks still going

More than two and half hours in, UK PM Boris Johnson and EU Commission President von der Leyen’s diner, during which the two are currently discussing the way forward in Brexit negotiations, is still ongoing.

Whether this is a good sign that they will soon be able to announce some kind of meaningful breakthrough in the talks, or is a sign of the ongoing difficulties the two sides still face, is yet to be known.

But GBP traders are primed to react; good news in the form of a major breakthrough towards a deal will be greeted with jubilation and GBP will get a boost. Mind you, any concessions made by von der Leyen will have to also be palatable to the French, who have been taking a tough stance on negotiations and threatened to veto any deal that gives too much away to the Brits.

Meanwhile, if the conclusion of talks is to continue negotiations into the weekend, the reaction is likely to be muted as this is currently the markets base case scenario. If in an unlikely scenario talks see a complete breakdown, with Johnson and von der Leyen coming away from the meeting with the conclusion that a free trade deal is not possible, GBP will be slammed.

GBP/JPY

Overview
Today last price	139.65
Today Daily Change	0.52
Today Daily Change %	0.37
Today daily open	139.13

Trends
Daily SMA20	138.91
Daily SMA50	137.52
Daily SMA100	137.67
Daily SMA200	135.59

Levels
Previous Daily High	139.38
Previous Daily Low	138.41
Previous Weekly High	140.71
Previous Weekly Low	138.38
Previous Monthly High	140.32
Previous Monthly Low	134.87
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%	138.78
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%	139.01
Daily Pivot Point S1	138.56
Daily Pivot Point S2	138
Daily Pivot Point S3	137.59
Daily Pivot Point R1	139.54
Daily Pivot Point R2	139.94
Daily Pivot Point R3	140.51

Author

Joel Frank

Independent Analyst

Joel Frank is an economics graduate from the University of Birmingham and has worked as a full-time financial market analyst since 2018, specialising in the coverage of how developments in the global economy impact financial asset

GBP/USD surges to multi-day peaks past 1.3250

GBP/USD leaves behind Friday’s small pullback and advances past 1.3250 level, or five-day highs, on Monday. Cable’s upside follows extra losses in the Greenback, while traders continue to assess the geopolitical front and upcoming key events.

EUR/USD picks up extra pace north of 1.1400

EUR/USD extends its recovery past 1.1400 the figure as the NA session draws to a close on Monday. Indeed, the pair advances for the third straight day amid the persistent offered bias in the US Dollar. Meanwhile, market participants keep gearing up for the ECB Forum in Sintra and the release of critical US labour market data.

Gold struggles to attract investors

Gold remains under marked selling pressure, holding on just above the key $4,000 mark per troy ounce at the beginning of the week. The precious metal reverses two daily advances in a row as renewed effervescence in the Middle East revive inflation concerns and bolster Fed rate hike expectations.

Strategy unveils plan allowing Bitcoin sales to fund stock buybacks, dividends and reserves

Strategy (MSTR) has unveiled a Digital Credit Framework to strengthen the company’s financial standing. Under the new framework, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin (BTC) will pivot from its previous accumulation strategy, opting to sell BTC in order to boost liquidity, fund dividend payments, execute stock buybacks, and strengthen cash reserves.

Just like Fed, is BoJ’s independence under threat?

When talking about central bank independence, most of the focus has been on Donald Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve. But a similar story, a quieter one for now, seems to be happening on the other side of the Pacific: Japan’s government may be testing the Bank of Japan’s independence.

Kevin Warsh isn't expected to say much in Sintra: That's exactly why markets will listen

Financial markets could find an important catalyst in the enchanting, fairytale-like landscape of Sintra this week. The ECB Forum will, as it does every year, gather the crème de la crème of central banks. The new boss at the Fed, who has clearly said that the Fed should stop explaining everything, will need to talk – and traders should listen.