|

GBP/USD has sold off slightly as MP's grill Johnson but the FOMC is just around the corner

  • GBP/USD is trading 0.62% higher on Wednesday.
  • Heading into the FOMC here are the key levels.

Fundamental backdrop - What will the Fed do next

The FOMC meeting is very close and GBP/USD has lost some ground leading into the event. The Fed are expected to give the market more details about the average inflation plan and also the new targeted employment policy. It was just recently that Fed Chair Powell announced the changes at the Jackson Hole event.

No changes to rates are expected but the market are looking for more clarity regarding policy changes. Will the new employment target allow more room for additional stimulus?.

The UK government has also been putting their questions to PM Johnson as the number of hospitalisations spikes higher again in the UK. There has been a whole issue around the lack of tests being made available to carers, hospital staff and educators in the UK at the moment. There have also been some vague rumours that the UK may need to increase the amount of lockdown measures to curb this new spike in patient numbers. 

GBP/USD 1-hour chart

Looking at the hourly chart the main level is the previous distribution point of control marked in orange. If there is to be a spike lower then this could be an important level to watch. If the FOMC is bearish then a break of the blue resistance zone near 1.30 could be an indicator of a move to higher levels. The next resistance is up at the green level near 1.3250. 

On the downside, the pink chart pattern along with the main low under 1.28 could provide some support but as you can see the recent trend has been down so the momentum might still be with the bears. 

The indicators have been bullish of late. The Relative Strength Index is above the 50 area and moving away from overbought level. While the MACD histogram was green but now there looks like there could be a bearish turn but we need to see what new developments come from the Fed.

GBP/USD FOMC levels

Author

Rajan Dhall, MSTA

Rajan Dhall is an experienced market analyst, who has been trading professionally since 2007 managing various funds producing exceptional returns.

More from Rajan Dhall, MSTA
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD weakens toward 1.1600 as firm US data revives the US Dollar

The EUR/USD edged lower on Thursday, down some 0.21% as market sentiment remains risk averse due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This and solid US economic data pushed the pair lower towards the 1.1600 figure ahead of Friday’s session.

GBP/USD drifts lower heading into NFP range

GBP/USD edged lower by 0.2% on Thursday, settling close to 1.3350 in a strained trading session that kept the pair pinned near three-month lows. Price briefly recovered earlier in the day on reports that Iran had indirectly signaled openness to talks with the CIA, but the bounce faded as Israeli officials reportedly advised Washington to disregard the overture. 

Gold slumps below $5,100 as US Dollar gains

Gold price tumbles to near $5,085 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal loses ground amid a stronger US Dollar. The US employment report for February will take center stage later on Friday. 

NYSE parent Intercontinental Exchange partners with OKX, invests at a $25B valuation

OKX announced an investment from Intercontinental Exchange, raising its valuation to $25 billion, alongside a partnership to expand regulated crypto futures and tokenized equity offerings globally.

Two PMIs, two Chinas

China’s economic data are often treated with a degree of caution by global investors. The challenge is not necessarily that the numbers are incorrect, but that they can describe very different parts of a vast and complex economy. Nowhere is that more evident than in China’s PMIs.

Ripple tests recovery strength amid steady ETF inflows, growing retail interest

Ripple (XRP) continues to demonstrate notable resilience as the cryptocurrency market navigates the persistent war in the Middle East after the United States (US) and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday.