|

GBP/USD - Investors are skeptical about the rally, bond yield spread nears key support

The broad based USD selling following the FOMC rate decision pushed the GBP/USD pair above 1.31 handle. The pair remained well bid in Asia and rose to 1.3149; its highest level since September 2016. 

However, investors aren’t buying the bullish breakout. As seen on the chart below, the 3-month 25-delta risk reversal remains depressed.

The risk reversal has remained flat lined in the range of minus 0.70 to minus 0.80 from June 29. During the same time period, GBP/USD has established higher lows. The divergence clearly indicates the investors are still skeptical about the rally. 

US-UK 10-yr yield spread

  • The yield spread has been steadily losing height in favor of the British Pound. The spread now hovers close to the support offered by the trend line sloping higher from the Q2 2016 low and Q4 2016 low. 
  • The spread could drop below the trend line support if the US durable goods orders data due for release at 12:30 GMT disappoints expectations. A break below the trend line could yield another leg higher in the GBP/USD pair. 

GBP/USD Technical Levels

The daily chart shows a rising wedge formation. The immediate resistance is seen at 1.3170 (wedge hurdle) ahead of 1.32 (psychological level) and 1.3274 (161.8% Fib ext. of Jan 16 low - Feb 2 high - Mar 14 low). On the downside, a break below 1.3106 (session low) would open up downside towards 1.3061 (5-DMA) - 1.3050 (10-DMA) and 1.30 (psychological level). 

 TREND INDEXOB/OS INDEXVOLATILY INDEX
15MSlightly BullishOverbought High
1HSlightly BullishOverbought Expanding
4HSlightly BullishOverbought High
1DBullishOverbought Shrinking
1WBullishNeutral Shrinking

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD: Breakdown below trading range support near 1.1770 comes into play

The EUR/USD pair opens with a bearish gap at the start of a new week as the US-Iran war-led global flight to safety boosts the US Dollar. Spot prices, however, lack follow-through selling and manage to hold above mid-1.1700s during the Asian session.

GBP/USD declines below 1.3450 on Middle East tensions, UK political uncertainty

The GBP/USD pair attracts some sellers to around 1.3420 during the early Asian session on Monday. The US Dollar edges higher against the Cable amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Gold jumps over 2% toward $5,400 after US, Israel attack Iran

Gold is on fire at the start of the week, a widely expected move, as investors seek harbor in the traditional store of value, following the continued US and Israel attacks on Iran. The bright metal opened with a bullish gap of about $17 and rallied toward the $5,400 level as Asian traders hit their desks and reacted negatively to the weekend news of the Middle East conflict, rushing for cover in Gold.

Iran escalation: Quick thoughts on markets

Markets are likely to open the week with risk-off, with declines led by airlines, cyclicals and trade-exposed names, while energy, defense and “strategic” sectors may be relatively steadier.

Crisis in the Middle East: The market reaction

A primer on how markets will open on Monday, and why geopolitical risk may not be easily absorbed by financial markets this time around. Geopolitics and events between Iran, the US and the wider Middle East will dominate financial markets on Monday. The situation has continued to escalate as we move through Sunday. 

Starknet unveils strkBTC, shielded Bitcoin transactions on Ethereum Layer 2

Starknet, the Ethereum Layer 2 network developed by StarkWare, today announced strkBTC, a wrapped Bitcoin asset that introduces optional shielding while preserving full DeFi composability.