|

GBP/USD Review: Bearish pressure remains unabated, lowest level since late-Aug. 2017

   •  Brexit concerns continue to dent sentiment surrounding the GBP.
   •  Renewed USD buying interest prompts some aggressive selling.
   •  Technical selling below 1.29 handle aggravates the downfall.

Bearish pressure surrounding the British Pound remains unabated, with the GBP/USD pair weakening farther below the 1.2900 handle to its lowest level since late August 2017.

After an Asian session uptick to an intraday high level of 1.2960, the pair came under some intense selling pressure and resumed with its well-established bearish trend. Against the backdrop of Brexit uncertainties, a goodish pickup in the US Dollar demand was seen as one of the key factors exerting some additional downward pressure on the major.

Adding to this, possibilities of some short-term trading stops being triggered below previous YTD low level of 1.2920, set on Monday, and a subsequent break below the 1.2900 handle seems to have further aggravated the selling pressure over the past couple of hour. 

In absence of any major market moving economic releases, traders might now take cues from Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin's scheduled speech. The key focus, however, would be on this week's important macroeconomic releases, including the prelim UK Q2 GDP growth figures and the latest US consumer inflation figures, which will be looked upon for some immediate respite for the GBP bulls.

Technical Analysis

The bearish slide now seems to have paused near a short-term descending trend-channel support on the daily chart. A convincing break below the mentioned support would open room for an extension of the near-term downward trajectory, albeit near-term oversold conditions might help limit deeper losses, at least for the time being.

Author

Haresh Menghani

Haresh Menghani is a detail-oriented professional with 10+ years of extensive experience in analysing the global financial markets.

More from Haresh Menghani
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD surges to multi-day peaks past 1.3250

GBP/USD leaves behind Friday’s small pullback and advances past 1.3250 level, or five-day highs, on Monday. Cable’s upside follows extra losses in the Greenback, while traders continue to assess the geopolitical front and upcoming key events.

EUR/USD picks up extra pace north of 1.1400

EUR/USD extends its recovery past 1.1400 the figure as the NA session draws to a close on Monday. Indeed, the pair advances for the third straight day amid the persistent offered bias in the US Dollar. Meanwhile, market participants keep gearing up for the ECB Forum in Sintra and the release of critical US labour market data.

Gold bears flirt with $4,000 as Iran tensions and Fed hike bets support USD

Gold remains under some selling pressure for the second straight day on Tuesday, with bears awaiting a sustained break below $4,000 before positioning for deeper losses. Renewed US-Iran hostilities over the weekend cast doubts over the sustainability of the peace deal. This, along with elevated expectations for Fed rate hikes, offers some support to the US Dollar and keeps the bullion within striking distance of the YTD low, touched last week.

Bitcoin stalls at $60K as buyer conviction fades, Strategy authorizes BTC sales

Bitcoin is trading around the $60,000 level on Monday after a sharp decline last week. With the top crypto struggling to recover, analysts suggest the market remains firmly in defensive territory as investors await stronger signs of demand.

Just like Fed, is BoJ’s independence under threat?

When talking about central bank independence, most of the focus has been on Donald Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve. But a similar story, a quieter one for now, seems to be happening on the other side of the Pacific: Japan’s government may be testing the Bank of Japan’s independence.

Kevin Warsh isn't expected to say much in Sintra: That's exactly why markets will listen

Financial markets could find an important catalyst in the enchanting, fairytale-like landscape of Sintra this week. The ECB Forum will, as it does every year, gather the crème de la crème of central banks. The new boss at the Fed, who has clearly said that the Fed should stop explaining everything, will need to talk – and traders should listen.