GBP/USD bounces from lows as US Dollar retreats

The Pound Sterling recovererd around 0.75% on Monday as broad Dollar weakness offers a brief reprieve from recent selling pressure.
The BoE is expected to hold rates at 3.75% at Thursday's meeting with a less-dovish tilt than the prior meeting.
UK January employment data, due Thursday, is forecast to show ILO unemployment steady at 5.2%, with bonused earnings growth expected to ease.

Joshua Gibson FXStreet

GBP/USD gained almost 0.75% on Monday, bouncing from Friday's low close to 1.3220 to settle on the high side of 1.3300. The session's recovery looks corrective rather than the start of a new trend; the pair remains in a clear downtrend from the late-January high near 1.3870, and Monday's candle has yet to challenge the cluster of resistance around the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). Price has closed below all of its key moving averages for several sessions, and the burden of proof sits with buyers.

Three high-impact events over the next three days will determine whether the bounce has legs. First up is the Federal Reserve (Fed) rate decision on Wednesday, where markets expect a hold at 3.75%, but the accompanying Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and Chair Powell's press conference carry significant weight for US Dollar (USD) direction; any hawkish signal on the rate path would add downside pressure to the pair.

Thursday brings the Bank of England's (BoE) rate decision, also expected to hold at 3.75%, but with a notable shift in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) vote composition; consensus points to a 2-0-7 split (cut-hike-unchanged), a considerably less-dovish reading than February's 4-0-5, suggesting the committee is in no rush to ease. UK employment data drops alongside the BoE on Thursday, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) unemployment rate forecast steady at 5.2%; average earnings growth including bonuses is also expected to ease to 3.9% year-on-year (YoY) from 4.2%. A softer wage print would reduce the BoE's rationale for a prolonged hold and could cap any Sterling recovery.

GBP/USD daily chart

Pound Sterling FAQs

What is the Pound Sterling?

The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).

How do the decisions of the Bank of England impact on the Pound Sterling?

The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.

How does economic data influence the value of the Pound?

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Pound?

Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.

Author

Joshua Gibson

FXStreet

Joshua joins the FXStreet team as an Economics and Finance double major from Vancouver Island University with twelve years' experience as an independent trader focusing on technical analysis.

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