|

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 looks sidelined below 1.1600

EUR/USD remains on the back foot in the latter part of the NA session on Thursday, now attempting a consolidative theme in the sub-1.1600 region. A more cautious market mood, driven by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, together with broad-based strength in the US Dollar, is favouring the continuation of the leg lower in spot.

GBP/USD stays offered near 1.3340

GBP/USD fades Wednesday’s uptick and trades with decent losses in the 1.3340 zone in the latter part of Thursday’s session. Cable’s weakness, alongside the rest of the risk complex, follows the strong performance of the Greenback amid intense geopolitical jitters.

Gold: further weakness could challenge $5,000

Gold comes under fresh selling pressure on Thursday, slipping back below the $5,100 mark per troy ounce. Persistent strength in the US Dollar (USD) is preventing the yellow metal from building a meaningful recovery, even as markets remain risk-averse amid the deepening conflict in the Middle East.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP hold weekly gains despite US-Iran war

The cryptocurrency market is gaining strength on Thursday, building on Wednesday's upswing, which saw Bitcoin reach a weekly high above $74,000. Ethereum and Ripple are moderating their recent gains amid uncertainty stemming from the escalating war in the Middle East.

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.