|

GBP/USD: Brexit revival sparking bullish correction ahead of UK GDP figures

  • Sterling bidders remain in control heading into the London market session, fueled by Brexit hope.
  • A UK GDP reading is slated for the London morning, and contracting growth numbers bode poorly for buyers.

The GBP/USD is grinding its way higher for Wednesday, clearing 1.3150 in early trading as bullish-hopefuls continue to cling to headlines that suggest that Brexit may not turn into the flaming mess many investors are fearing.

News headlines continue to cross that all hope is not lost in the ongoing Brexit saga, and this week is seeing a revival in the bulls' camp as the UK and the European Union look set to try and strong-arm their way into an interim deal ahead of a fast-approaching November deadline, and risk-hungry investors are jumping on the GBP train in anticipation of some forward momentum on talks. The two sides remain far apart on the still-unresolved Irish border dispute, as well as how far and for how long the UK will remain embroiled in the European customs union following Brexit, and the Eurosceptic Brexiteers within UK Prime Minister Theresa May's own party still remain a viable threat, still promising to vote down any Chequers-based deal that PM May might squeeze out of the EU.

Wednesday also delivers a fresh round of the UK's monthly GDP reading at 08:30 GMT, with the headline figure forecast to clock in at 0.1%, a slight contraction from the previous month's 0.3%, and a missed reading here could see bulls having a harder fight than they anticipated as Britain's economy still struggles to throw off signs of stagnating growth within their domestic economy.

GBP/USD levels to watch

Despite obvious sell-side risks present for the Cable heading into the latter half of the week, the GBP/USD pairing remains well-bid for the early half of Wednesday, and as FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik notes, "meanwhile, the 4 hours chart for the pair shows that it found support around a flat 200 EMA, now developing also above a bullish 20 SMA, while technical indicators bounced from their mid-lines, holding below previous monthly highs despite the price reached a fresh one. The pair is still developing below the 50% retracement of the 2016/18 rally at 1.3170, a major static resistance level that needs to be cleared for a more sustainable recovery ahead. Seems unlikely, however, that the pair could begin a clear directional move with a Brexit deal still pending."

 Support levels: 1.3040 1.3000 1.2970    

Resistance levels: 1.3100 1.3130 1.3175

Author

Joshua Gibson

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.

More from Joshua Gibson
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD eyes nine-day EMA barrier after rebounding from 1.1600

EUR/USD gains ground after registering modest losses in the previous session, trading around 1.1620 during the Asian hours on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests an ongoing bearish bias as the pair remains within the descending channel pattern.

GBP/USD: Pound Sterling ticks up against US Dollar in countdown to US NFP

The Pound Sterling trades marginally higher to near 1.3365 against the US Dollar during the Asian trading session on Friday. The GBP/USD pair edges up as the US Dollar ticks down ahead of the United States Nonfarm Payrolls data for February, which will be published at 13:30 GMT.

Gold advances on increased safe-haven demand

Gold price recovers its recent losses from the previous session. The yellow metal advances as the broader precious metals market rebounds on safe-haven demand. However, the yellow metal is on track for its first weekly decline in five weeks as escalating Middle East tensions push oil prices higher, fueling inflation concerns and reducing bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple at risk as US-Iran war extends

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple trade cautiously at press time on Friday, close to key support levels after a roughly 2% pullback the previous day. Bitcoin holds above $71,000, Ethereum at $2,000, and XRP continues to consolidate in a sideways range.

The market compass is pointing at a barrel of Oil

The Asian open is arriving with equities leaning the wrong way, and the reason is not complicated. The market’s compass needle has snapped firmly toward crude. In this tape, oil is not just another input price; it is the gravitational center around which every asset class is orbiting.

Top 3 Price Prediction: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple at risk as US-Iran war extends

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple trade cautiously at press time on Friday, close to key support levels after a roughly 2% pullback the previous day. Bitcoin holds above $71,000, Ethereum at $2,000, and XRP continues to consolidate in a sideways range.