|

GBP/USD holding flat for the week as traders await further Brexit developments

  • The Sterling is free-floating just above 1.30 after Monday's sideways action.
  • Brexit headlines will continue to drive the GBP through the broader markets.

The GBP/USD major pairing is floating near 1.3035 ahead of Tuesday's London session as a quiet Asian market sees calm waters following Monday's whippy Sterling action.

The pound punched in a quick new high for the week at 1.3115 yesterday on continued Brexit upheaval, but quickly faded back into the 1.30 region, and the GBP/USD is currently sitting at near-term lows with a thin calendar on the offering for Tuesday and cautious traders watching for more Brexit headlines.

Tuesday sees the UK's September Construction PMI at 08:30 GMT, and the mid-tier indicator is expected to contract slightly from the previous reading of 52.9 to 52.5, though markets will be expecting a more lively response to the US Federal Reserve's Jerome Powell, who is slated to deliver yet another speech later in the day at 16:45 GMT, though the Fed head could see a limited market response if he remains in-line with his recent rhetoric following last week's 25 basis-point rate hike.

Brexit headlines continue to plague the Pound, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May's strategy of 'no deal better than bad deal' is beginning to see baying on all sides, and parliamentary Eurosceptics are working hard to undermine the PM's authority in negotiations while cooler heads are seeking a more passable solution to the current standstill. In an effort to re-grease the wheels, PM May has floated the idea of the UK remaining within the European single market for slightly longer than previously agreed to, in exchange offering for the UK to see restricted abilities to negotiate free trade deals with outside nations for several years following Brexit, a move that will likely draw ire from Brexiteers back home, whose mantlepiece of Brexit was to secure profitable trade agreements with non-European nations as an impetus for Brexit in the first place.

GBP/USD levels to watch

The Pound-Dollar pair sees limited upside potential unless bulls can gather themselves up and make a strong push higher, an increasingly unlikely event as Brexit proceedings continue to fray at the edges. As FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik noted, "the 4 hours chart shows that dismissing the intraday spike, the pair spent the day confined to a tight 20 pips' range,  unable to regain ground above a flat 200 EMA and while the 20 SMA gains bearish strength above the larger one. Technical indicators in the mentioned chart have recovered modestly but remain in negative territory, with the RSI already turning south at currently at 34, which leans the scale toward the downside. Anyway, the absence of a relevant directional breakout is directly linked to uncertainty surrounding Brexit, as, despite the positive headlines, the market would need now an official announcement from authorities to actually rush to price it in."

Support levels: 1.3000 1.2970 1.2945                                                

Resistance levels: 1.3065 1.3100 1.3140

Author

Joshua Gibson

Joshua joins the FXStreet team as an Economics and Finance double major from Vancouver Island University with twelve years' experience as an independent trader focusing on technical analysis.

More from Joshua Gibson
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD climbs above 1.1600 as markets cheer US-Iran deal

EUR/USD gathers bullish momentum and trades above 1.1600 on Monday. The US and Iran have reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which underpins risk sentiment, supporting the Euro against the US Dollar. Now, the main focus this week remains on the Fed policy decision due on Wednesday.

GBP/USD retreats from 10-day high, holds above 1.3200

GBP/USD pulls away from the 10-day high it touched above 1.3460 but manages to stay in positive territory above 1.3400. The positive shift seen in risk mood following news of the US and Iran reaching a framework agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz helps the pair hold its ground.

Gold rallies beyond $4,300 as geopolitical tensions ease

Gold rises sharply on Monday and trades well above $4,300, gaining nearly 3% on the day. The precious metal gathers bullish momentum after the United States and Iran had reached a deal to end their conflict, easing concerns about inflation and higher interest rates.


Bitcoin consolidates gains, Ethereum defends support, XRP nears breakout trigger


Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple begin the week on a constructive note as the top three cryptocurrencies attempt to extend rebounds after recovering nearly 4%, 2% and 2.6%, respectively. BTC steadies around $65,600, ETH continues to hold firmly above the key $1,700 support, while XRP nears the upper boundary of the falling channel pattern. 

President Trump announced that the deal with Iran is complete
President Trump announced that the deal with Iran is complete and he authorises the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and removal of the US Naval blockade. While the agreement is made, it is expected to be signed on Friday to take effect. The Forex market looks stable and could react slowly to the positivity around the news as Iran still expresses its mistrust on the US.
4.2% headline, 0.2% core: Why the Fed's next hike may be targeting the wrong problem

May's CPI put headline inflation at 4.2% on the year, up from 3.8% in April and the hottest reading since April 2023, while core prices rose just 0.2% on the month, undershooting the 0.3% consensus and halving April's pace.