GBP/USD Price Analysis: Sticks to modest gains above 1.2150, eyes on US Jobless Claims

The GBP/USD pair posts modest gains above the mid-1.2100s during the Asian session on Thursday. In the absence of the top-tier economic data from the UK docket, the major pair remains at the mercy of the US Dollar (USD) price dynamics. GBP/USD currently trades near 1.2160, gaining 0.21% on the day.

That said, the rebound of the pair is supported by the weaker US Dollar (USD) following the softer US labor market data. Automatic Data Processing (ADP) reported on Thursday that the US private payrolls for September rose by 89,000 from the previous reading of 180,000, below the market expectation of 153,000. This figure posted the lowest level since January 2021.

Technically, GBP/USD holds below the 50- and 100-hour Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) with a downward slope on the four-hour chart, which means further downside looks favorable. Furthermore, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) holds above 50 in the bullish territory, indicating that buyers are likely to retain control soon.

The critical resistance level for GBP/USD will emerge near the upper boundary of the Bollinger Band and a psychological round figure at the 1.2200-1.2210 region. The additional upside filter to watch is near the 100-hour EMA at 1.2257. The next barrier for the pair is seen at 1.2270 (a high of September 29). Further north, a high of September at 1.2324 will be the next stop.

On the other hand, the initial support level is located at 1.2110 (a low of September 27). The next contention level will emerge near a low of October 3, en route to the lower limit of the Bollinger Band at 1.2028. Any decisive follow-through selling below will see a drop to 1.1965 (a low of February 16).

GBP/USD four-hour chart