- GBP/USD drifts lower for the fourth straight day and drops to a more than two-month low.
- Bets for a lower BoE peak rate undermine the British Pound and exert pressure on the pair.
- Technical selling below the 100-day SMA contributes to the downfall amid a bullish USD.
The GBP/USD pair prolongs its rejection slide from the 1.2800 mark touched earlier this week and remains under some selling pressure for the fourth successive day on Friday. Spot prices drop to a more than two-month low, around the 1.2585 region during the Asian session, confirming the overnight breakdown through a technically significant 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) for the first time since March 2023.
The British Pound (GBP) is undermined by rising bets for a lower Bank of England (BoE) peak rate, which, along with a bullish US Dollar (USD), continues to exert some downward pressure on the GBP/USD pair. The disappointing UK PMI prints released on Wednesday revived fears about an impending recession and convinced market participants that the BoE will not need to raise rates as high as previously thought to bring inflation back down to the target. In fact, money markets are now pricing in a small chance of any further rate hike after the anticipated 25 bps lift-off in September.
The USD, on the other hand, climbs to its highest level since June 7 and remains well supported by the overnight hawkish remarks by Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers. In fact, Boston Fed President Susan Collins said that the central bank may be at a place to hold rates steady, though noted that more rate hikes are possible and that it is still premature to signal the timing of rate cuts. Adding to this, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker stated that the central bank must keep its restrictive stance and added that inflation needs to fall further to pave the way for any rate cuts.
This, in turn, leaves the door open for one more 25 bps rate hike by the end of this year, which keeps the US Treasury bond yields elevated and continues to underpin the USD. Apart from this, some technical selling below the 100-day SMA contributes to the offered tone surrounding the GBP/USD pair and supports prospects for a further near-term depreciating move. Traders, however, might refrain from placing aggressive bets ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium, due later this Friday, and BoE Governor Andrew Bailey's statement on Saturday.
Technical levels to watch
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD trades with a bearish bias above 1.0750 ahead of US economic data
EUR/USD trades on a softer note around 1.0770 during the Asian trading hours on Monday. Investors turn to cautious mode and prefer to wait on the sidelines ahead of the US key economic data this week.
GBP/USD hovers above 1.2500, focus on UK labor data scheduled for Tuesday
GBP/USD edges higher to near 1.2520 during the Asian session on Monday, possibly due to improved risk appetite. The Pound Sterling was bolstered by releasing higher-than-expected UK Gross Domestic Product figures on Friday.
Gold price loses its recovery momentum, eyes on Fedspeak
Gold price loses its recovery momentum on Monday during the Asian session. The hawkish remarks from the Federal Reserve and growing speculation that the Fed might delay its easing plans have boosted the Greenback and dragged the USD-denominated gold lower.
Here’s what needs to happen for The Graph price to revisit $0.422
The Graph price consolidation below a key hurdle shows that it is ready for a volatile move. With GRT retesting the upper limit of its rangebound movement, chances of an upside breakout are high.
Inflation and tariffs take center stage in discussions
This week market focus will center around inflation data from the US, the world's largest economy, poised to influence global market sentiment. Overall market sentiment appears optimistic as the potential for a US interest rate cut in September has re-entered the conversation.