GBP: The strongest story in G10? – ING

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

This will be a busy week in the UK data calendar, ING's commodity experts Ewa Manthey and Warren Patterson note.

EU-UK summit on 19 May may keep EUR/GBP under pressure

"On Tuesday, we'll get the latest jobs figures. The job market is cooling but not significantly weakening after recent tax hikes. Last month's payroll drop might be revised up, and while unemployment is expected to rise, the figures have known reliability issues. Crucially, wage growth should slow, easing pay pressures."

"On Thursday, the first-quarter GDP report will be released. February's GDP surged by 0.5%, and despite a potential pullback in March, the first quarter should show solid growth. This is partly due to volatile manufacturing numbers. The second quarter will likely be more subdued, but overall growth should be supported by government spending."

"The pound has received support from an improved trade picture for the UK (i.e., deals with the US and India and upcoming negotiations with the EU) as well as from a hawkish-leaning Bank of England. Positioning imbalances, improved risk sentiment, and the upcoming EU-UK summit on 19 May may well keep EUR/GBP pressure, with a break below 0.840 now appearing increasingly likely."

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

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.

EUR/USD trims gains, back below 1.1800

EUR/USD now loses some upside momentum, returning to the area below the 1.1800 support as the Greenback manages to regain some composure following the SCOTUS-led pullback earlier in the session.

GBP/USD off highs, recedes to the sub-1.3500 area

Following earlier highs north of 1.3500 the figure, GBP/USD now faces some renewed downside pressure, revisiting the 1.3490 zone as the US Dollar manages to regain some upside impulse in the latter part of the NA session on Friday.

Gold climbs to weekly tops, approaches $5,100/oz

Gold keeps the bid tone well in place at the end of the week, now hitting fresh weekly highs and retargeting the key $5,100 mark per troy ounce. The move higher in the yellow metal comes in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and modest losses in the US Dollar.