|

GBP: Strength continues – ING

It’s been a quiet week in the UK calendar, but the weak economic indicators out of the eurozone have dealt a blow to EUR/GBP, ING’s FX strategist Francesco Pesole notes.

GBP/USD may start to look expensive soon

“We saw the pair test the 0.8320 level earlier this week, and while we continue to see a good case for a rebound beyond the short term as Bank of England easing may be underpriced, we probably need some inflation surprise in the eurozone to prevent 0.8300 to be tested soon.”

“The EUR:GBP swap rate differential collapsed as markets increased bets the eurozone’s grim outlook will force the ECB into larger cuts than the BoE, and is now at -155bp, the widest since December 2023. That should keep some pressure on the pair in the near term.”

“In cable, the fresh 1.34+ highs are also justified by the policy rate differential, although expectations for a 50bp Fed cut may be misplaced, and GBP/USD may start to look expensive soon.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD defies gravity; focus is back to 0.7000

AUD/USD has maintained its bid bias around 0.6970 ahead of the opening bell in Asia on Tuesday. The pair has added to Friday’s rebound, retargeting the 0.7000 hurdle despite another day of firm gains in the Greenback. Looking ahead, Westpac will publish its Consumer Confidence gauge on the domestic calendar.

USD/JPY retakes 158.00 amid hawkish BoJ bets, firmer USD

USD/JPY erases losses and retakes 158.00 in the Asian session on Monday, trading within a one-week-old range. Geopolitical uncertainty continues to underpin the US Dollar, despite fading Fed rate hike hopes, supporting the pair's rebound. However, further upside could be capped by hawkish BoJ expectations and looming intervention risks that could support the Japanese Yen.

Gold treads water around $4,150

Gold now regains some composure and approaches the $4,150 mark per troy ounce late on Monday. The precious metal’s vacillating price action comes in response to the persistent advance in the US Dollar in combination with the resurgence of the upside momentum in US Treasury yields across the curve.

Bitcoin and Gold Outlook: BTC slips, XAU downtrend persists as US Services PMI misses forecasts
Bitcoin (BTC) faces growing headwinds on Monday, as it trades lower below $86,000. Despite the ongoing pullback, the Crypto King remains in a broad range with the lower limit near $84,000 and the upper limit at $88,000. A break on either side of this zone would influence BTC's direction. Gold (XAU/USD), meanwhile, retains a dominant bearish outlook as price action continues downward toward $4,100.
Eurozone inflation just hit 3.8%, its highest in three years. This chart shows why the ECB can’t simply hike its way out

The ECB would normally have a relatively straightforward answer to inflation running almost twice its target: raise interest rates. But these are not normal circumstances. This time, the bond market is already doing part of the tightening for it, leaving the ECB facing an increasingly difficult dilemma.

Eurozone inflation just hit 3.8%, its highest in three years. This chart shows why the ECB can’t simply hike its way out

The ECB would normally have a relatively straightforward answer to inflation running almost twice its target: raise interest rates. But these are not normal circumstances. This time, the bond market is already doing part of the tightening for it, leaving the ECB facing an increasingly difficult dilemma.