Cable has taken advantage of the generally weak US Dollar (USD) and some slightly hotter than expected UK CPI data to advance through the 1.30 point to reach its highest in a year, Scotiabank’s Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.
Broader progress towards 1.33 looks feasible
“Headline CPI rose 0.1% M/M in June, as expected but inflation held at 2.0% in the year (versus a forecast decline to 1.9%). Core prices were steady also and Service sector inflation was unchanged in the year at a lofty 5.7%. The data further compromised prospects for an early August BoE rate cut, with swaps now pricing in less than 10bps of easing risk.”
“Note that the IMF’s latest forecasts indicated the UK economy would be among the fastest, if not the fastest, growing major European economy next year (1.5%, just ahead of the 1.3% pace predicted for Germany and France).”
“GBP/USD’s push above 1.30 adds to a positive technical backdrop that is shaped by solid price gains over the past couple of weeks, a clear move above the early March high and an alignment of bullish trend indicators across the short-, medium– and long-term trend oscillators. Gains should target a return to the 1.3150 zone initially but broader progress towards 1.33 looks feasible in the coming weeks. Support is 1.2950/75.”
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: Consolidation seems the name of the game
AUD/USD came under further downside pressure on Thursday, adding to Wednesday’s retracement and briefly dipping below the key support at 0.6400 the figure. The pair’s pullback came despite decent losses in the Greenback and firmer Australian labour market report.

EUR/USD: Door open to further weakness
EUR/USD is starting to feel heavy, with growing concern that more downside could be just around the corner. The pair has struggled to hold onto any bullish momentum and has been steadily drifting lower since hitting yearly highs near 1.1570 in late April.

Gold hovers around $3,200 amid tepid buying
Gold kept up its bullish momentum on Thursday, climbing to fresh daily highs above the key $3,200 mark per troy ounce. The move is getting a boost from a softer Greenback and a generally cautious mood in global markets, while the initial excitement around the US–China trade deal continues to fade.

Crypto Today: SOL, XRP and ADA in danger zone as Bitcoin price anchors market above $3.4 trillion
The cryptocurrency sector declined 4% on Thursday, with aggregate market capitalization hovering precariously above the $3.4 trillion mark. Top altcoins XRP, Solana and Cardano booked losses higher than the market average, with the more resilient performance of BTC and ETH signaled a flight-to-quality trade.

Why the UK’s first quarter growth surge looks strange
The UK economy roared back to life in the first quarter after stagnating through the second half of last year. Or did it? We're not sure the data is an accurate guide to what's going on beneath the surface.