- GBP/USD holds positive ground above 1.2760, supported by the UK inflation data.
- The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) data fuels concerns about stubborn inflation in the UK economy.
- US Initial Jobless Claims were marginally better than anticipated; the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index improves.
- Investors will monitor the highly-anticipated UK Retail Sales on Friday.
The GBP/USD pair gains momentum and surges above mid-1.2750s during the early Asian session on Friday. The major pair currently trades near 1.2761, up 0.11% for the day. The strengthening of the Pound Sterling is bolstered by the inflation report and the probability of further interest rates by the Bank of England (BoE).
On Wednesday, the UK’s National Statistics revealed that the nation's Consumer Price Index (CPI) MoM came in at -0.4%, beating market estimation of -0.5% versus the previous reading of 0.1%. The annual British CPI inflation rose 6.8% for June, as expected at 6.8%. The core CPI, which excludes volatile oil and food prices for July, increased by 6.9%, above the estimated 6.8%.
The core CPI data has raised concerns about persistent inflation in the UK economy, which may lead the BoE to keep raising interest rates. This, in turn, supports the Pound Sterling and acts as a tailwind for the GBP/USD pair.
The number of unemployment claims fell for the week ending on August 12, indicating that the labor market remains tight. The figures strengthen the case for another interest rate rise by the Federal Reserve (Fed). FOMC Minutes emphasized on Wednesday that inflation remained unacceptably high and it may need additional tightening of monetary policy to bring inflation to the longer-run target.
That said, the number of jobless claims declined to 239K for the week ending on August 12. The figure came in slightly below the market expectation of 240K, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reported on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Continuing Jobless Claims rose to 1.716 million. Finally, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's Manufacturing Survey for August improved to 12, above the market consensus of -10 and -12 prior.
The UK Retail Sales data will be the key event on Friday. The monthly figure for July is expected to drop by 0.5%. Next week, market players will shift their focus to the Purchasing managers' indexes (PMI) data from both UK and US. Investors will take cues from the data and find opportunities around the GBP/USD pair.
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
AUD/USD continues to lose ground amid firmer US Dollar
The AUD/USD continues its losing streak, trading around 0.6580 on Thursday following the Reserve Bank of Australia's less hawkish stance, especially after last week's inflation data exceeded predictions. Nevertheless, the RBA acknowledged that recent progress in controlling inflation has stalled, maintaining its stance of keeping options open.
USD/JPY holds positive ground above 155.50 following the BoJ Summary of Opinions
The USD/JPY pair trades in positive territory for the fourth consecutive day around 155.60 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. However, the fear of further intervention from the Bank of Japan is likely to cap the downside of the Japanese Yen for the time being.
Gold price gains ground, investors await US data, Fedspeak for fresh catalyst
Gold price trades with a positive bias on Thursday amid the absence of top-tier economic data releases at mid-week. However, multiple headwinds, such as the firmer US Dollar and the hawkish comments from the US Federal Reserve are likely to cap the upside of the precious metal in the near term.
President Biden threatens crypto with possible veto of Bitcoin custody among trusted custodians
Joe Biden could veto legislation that would allow regulated financial institutions to custody Bitcoin and crypto. Biden administration’s stance would disrupt US SEC’s work to protect crypto market investors and efforts to safeguard broader financial system.
US inflation data in the market purview
With next week's pivotal US inflation data looming, we're witnessing a stall in stock market momentum and an uptick in US Treasury yields. This shift comes amid murmurs of hawkish sentiment from Fed speak. Indeed the mind games intensify even further as investors cling to their rate cut hopes.