|

GBP/USD drops below 1.33 as USD extends gains on strong data

  • US GDP growth in Q4 beats expectations.
  • Chicago PMI rises to its best level in more than a year. 
  • US Dollar Index turns positive on the day above 96.

The GBP/USD pair failed to hold above the 1.33 mark on Thursday after today macroeconomic data releases from the United States helped the greenback start retracing this week's losses. As of writing, the pair was trading at 1.3285, losing 0.18% on a daily basis.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis today reported that according to its initial estimate, the real GDP is seen expanding by 2.6% on a yearly basis in the fourth quarter compared to the market expectation of 2.3%. The US Dollar Index, which recovered above 96 on the GDP data, extended its rebound after the Chicago PMI improved to 64.7 in February from 56.7 in January. At the moment, the DXY is up 0.15% 96.25.

Earlier in the day, British Brexit Secretary Barclay said that there was no consensus in Parliament about a second referendum. On other Brexit-related headlines, the European Union's Chief Brexit Negotiator Barnier argued that an extension to the negotiation period was possible but questioned what purpose it would serve. "An extension must be not to delay the problem but solve the problem in the House of Commons," Barnier explained.

Technical levels to consider

GBP/USD

Trends:
    Daily SMA20: 1.3005
    Daily SMA50: 1.2903
    Daily SMA100: 1.2881
    Daily SMA200: 1.2992
Levels:
    Previous Daily High: 1.3351
    Previous Daily Low: 1.3233
    Previous Weekly High: 1.3109
    Previous Weekly Low: 1.2891
    Previous Monthly High: 1.3214
    Previous Monthly Low: 1.2438
    Daily Fibonacci 38.2%: 1.3306
    Daily Fibonacci 61.8%: 1.3278
    Daily Pivot Point S1: 1.3243
    Daily Pivot Point S2: 1.3179
    Daily Pivot Point S3: 1.3125
    Daily Pivot Point R1: 1.3361
    Daily Pivot Point R2: 1.3415
    Daily Pivot Point R3: 1.3479

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs, retargets 1.1900

EUR/USD regains upside traction, returning to the 1.1880 zone and refocusing its attention to the key 1.1900 barrier. The pair’s slight gains comes against the backdrop of a humble decline in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings and the potential Fed’s rate path.

GBP/USD remains well bid around 1.3650

GBP/USD maintains its upside momentum in place, hovering around daily highs near 1.3650 and setting aside part of the recent three-day drop. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the Greenback’s  irresolute price action, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborate with the uptick.

Gold clings to gains just above $5,000/oz

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The precious metal’s move higher is also underpinned by the slight pullback in the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest 

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.