GBP/USD rises to near 1.2750 despite diminishing expectations for Fed rate cuts

GBP/USD advances for the second successive session, trading around 1.2740, near two-month highs, during the Asian hours on Monday. The appreciation in the GBP/USD could be attributed to the risk-on sentiment, despite diminishing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. It is worth noting that the UK market will be closed due to the Spring Bank Holiday and the US market will be closed due to the Memorial Day bank holiday on Monday.

The University of Michigan's 5-year Consumer Inflation Expectations for May on Friday. It eased slightly to 3.0%, below the forecasted 3.1%. Despite the upward revision of the Consumer Sentiment Index to 69.1 from a preliminary reading of 67.4, it still marked the lowest level in six months. These figures likely contributed to strengthening investors’ sentiment regarding potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. This has weakened the Greenback and underpinned the GBP/USD pair.

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of the Federal Reserve implementing a 25 basis-point rate cut in September has decreased to 44.9% from 49.0% a week earlier.

In the United Kingdom (UK), traders have digested lower-than-anticipated Retail Sales data released on Friday. April saw a notable 2.3% decline in the monthly volume of sales of goods by retailers, far worse than the expected 0.4% downturn. On an annual basis, sales dipped by 2.7%, compared to the expected 0.2% decrease. Meanwhile, GfK Consumer Confidence softened to a reading of -17 in May, slightly better than the anticipated -18 reading and the previous -19.

Furthermore, the UK's annual inflation rate has moderated, edging closer to the Bank of England's (BoE) target of 2%. This moderation has tempered expectations of a rate cut in June among investors, potentially bolstering support for the Pound Sterling (GBP).