GBP/USD Price Forecast: Holds a constructive bullish tone above 1.3400 as UK political risk eases

GBP/USD gathers strength to near 1.3405 in Thursday’s early European session.
The pair maintains constructive bias, with a mildly bullish RSI momentum.
The first upside barrier emerges at 1.3470; the initial support level to watch is 1.3300.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

The GBP/USD pair trades in positive territory around 1.3405 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. Fading political uncertainty in the United Kingdom (UK) provides some support to the British Pound (GBP) against the US Dollar (USD).

Following the resignation of Keir Starmer in late June, UK political risk has eased significantly. The formal race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins on July 9. Frontrunner Andy Burnham is widely expected to become Prime Minister by July 20.

Technical Analysis:

In the daily chart, GBP/USD holds a mildly bullish near-term bias as price sits above the Bollinger middle band and the 100-day simple moving average (SMA). The pair is pressing the upper half of the recent range, with the Bollinger Bands (20, 2) still widening modestly, while the Relative Strength Index (14) at 57.6 suggests constructive but not overextended upside momentum.

On the topside, initial resistance is aligned with the Bollinger upper band at 1.3470, where buyers could hesitate. On the downside, immediate support is provided by the Bollinger middle band near 1.3300, while a deeper pullback would likely be contained by the Bollinger lower band around 1.3130.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)

Pound Sterling FAQs

What is the Pound Sterling?

The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).

How do the decisions of the Bank of England impact on the Pound Sterling?

The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.

How does economic data influence the value of the Pound?

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Pound?

Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

GBP/USD advances to three-week high above 1.3400 as UK political risk eases

The GBP/USD pair builds on Wednesday's gains and trades in positive territory above 1.3400 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. Fading political uncertainty following the resignation of Keir Starmer in late June provides some support to the British Pound against the US Dollar. However, the risk-averse market atmosphere could limit the pair's upside.

EUR/USD climbs toward 1.1450 despite Mideast tensions

EUR/USD gains traction in the European session on Thursday and advances toward 1.1450. Despite the escalating tensions in the Middle East, the US Dollar (USD) struggles to find demand and allows the pair to stretch higher. Weekly Jobless Claims data will be featured in the US economic calendar.

Gold sees more pain as Iran tensions revive inflation fears

Gold price reflects signs of softness on Thursday, trading 0.5% lower at around $4,056 during the Asian trading session. The precious metal is under pressure as Middle East hostilities have revived fears of high global inflation, a scenario that discourages major central banks from easing monetary conditions. This framework bodes well for interest-bearing assets, but diminishes the appeal of non-yielding assets, such as Gold.

Hyperliquid: Short-term noise in HYPE price masks breakout potential to $100

Hyperliquid continues to slide for the fourth consecutive day this week as retail demand eases amid broader market risk-off sentiment. A surge in HIP-3 Open Interest reflects steady demand for tokenized Real World Assets, amid institutional inflows that support the broader upward trend.

2.50%: Why the Kiwi's first hike in three years is a wager on a number nobody can see

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) raised the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.50% at 02:00 GMT on Wednesday, its first hike in three years and the moment the bank that cut deeper than any G10 peer last cycle turned to face the other way.

Bye, forward guidance: How to trade when central banks choose silence

Central banks have spent years telling markets what might come next. Now, traders face the possibility that they say a lot less. From the Federal Reserve to the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, policymakers are pushing back against forward guidance.