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GBP/USD can't seem to shed the 1.33 handle as UK markets return from their long weekend

  • Sterling remains flat for the week with London back from a long weekend today.
  • A thin economic calendar is going to keep the Sterling exposed to whips from headlines and overall market sentiment.

The GBP/USD has seen a quiet Asia session for Tuesday, dipping into Monday's low near 1.3295 before resuming trading near 1.3320.

The Sterling saw little action for the new week with UK institutions off for a long weekend in celebration of the Spring Bank Holiday, and GBP liquidity will return in-force today for the upcoming London market session.

Despite the UK session's return to the foray today, Tuesday is unlikely to bring much action for the GBP/USD, with only the BRC Shop Price Index on the data docket, dropping late at 23:01 GMT (last reading -1%). Market flows, fueled by fickle risk appetite, are likely to remain the key driver for the major pair.

The rest of the week is similarly devoid of any high-tier data or news releases for the Sterling, and Brexit headlines can be expected to continue to keep a lid on any kind of meaning bullish comeback for the GBP as Prime Minister Theresa May continues to have a hard time swinging a Brexit deal that keeps both sides of the Channel happy.

GBP/USD levels to watch

As FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik highlighted recently regarding the pair's technical stance: "the short-term picture for GBP/USD is bearish despite the holiday left it with no directional strength, given  that in the 4 hours chart, a modesty bearish 20 SMA, currently at 1.3340 keeps capping the upside, while technical indicators have turned modestly higher, but remain well below their daily highs and within negative levels."

Support levels: 1.3280 1.3245 1.3210   

Resistance levels: 1.3340 1.3385 1.3410  

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.

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