GBP/USD slips below 1.3000 amid firm US Dollar ahead of Fed decision

GBP/USD inches lower as traders adopt caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due on Wednesday.
The Fed is expected to leave interest rates unchanged, highlighting persistent inflation concerns and economic uncertainty.
Traders anticipate the Bank of England will also maintain borrowing costs at 4.5%, with a likely 7-2 vote split.

Akhtar Faruqui FXStreet

GBP/USD edges lower, trading around 1.2990 during Asian hours on Wednesday after posting gains in the previous two sessions. The pair struggles as the US Dollar (USD) remains firm, supported by stable US Treasury yields ahead of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision later in the day. Markets widely expect the Fed to hold rates steady amid persistent inflation concerns and economic uncertainty.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the USD against six major currencies, trades near 103.40. Meanwhile, yields on 2-year and 10-year US Treasury bonds stand at 4.04% and 4.29%, respectively, at the time of writing. However, the Greenback faced pressure from weak US economic data and renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, adding to investor uncertainty.

Traders are closely watching the Fed’s updated economic projections for further clues on the future path of US interest rates. Any hawkish signals from Fed policymakers could strengthen the USD against its counterparts.

Adding to the political landscape, “The Wall Street Journal” reports that Trump has dismissed two Democratic Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners. Uncertainty lingers over whether he has the authority to do so, fueling speculation about whether this move sets the stage for potential firings of Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Federal Reserve members.

The Pound Sterling (GBP) trades cautiously as investors focus on the Bank of England’s (BoE) interest rate decision on Thursday. Markets widely expect the BoE to keep borrowing costs unchanged at 4.5%, with a likely 7-2 vote split.

BoE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members Catherine Mann and Swati Dhingra are expected to advocate for a rate cut. In the February meeting, both officials pushed for a larger-than-usual 50 basis-point (bps) reduction, while the majority favored a more conventional 25 bps cut.

Economic Indicator

Fed Interest Rate Decision

The Federal Reserve (Fed) deliberates on monetary policy and makes a decision on interest rates at eight pre-scheduled meetings per year. It has two mandates: to keep inflation at 2%, and to maintain full employment. Its main tool for achieving this is by setting interest rates – both at which it lends to banks and banks lend to each other. If it decides to hike rates, the US Dollar (USD) tends to strengthen as it attracts more foreign capital inflows. If it cuts rates, it tends to weaken the USD as capital drains out to countries offering higher returns. If rates are left unchanged, attention turns to the tone of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, and whether it is hawkish (expectant of higher future interest rates), or dovish (expectant of lower future rates).

EUR/USD flirts with daily highs near 1.1620

EUR/USD now manages to regain upside impulse, extending its bounce to the 1.1630 region, or daily tops, always on the back of the renewed selling pressure on the US Dollar. Meanwhile, investors gear up for a busy US docket as well as comments from Fed officials.

GBP/USD advances modestly, reclaims 1.3400

The better tone in the risk complex helps the British Pound on Friday, motivating GBP/USD to reclaim the 1.3400 hurdle and beyond on the back of the modest pullback in the Greenback. Moving forward, traders are expected to closely follow results from key US data releases.

Gold loses momentum, back to $4,600

Gold adds to Thursday’s small decline and revisits the $4,600 region per troy ounce at the end of the week. The precious metal’s corrective move comes on the back of easing geopolitical tensions as well as some improvement in the risk-linked universe.