GBP/USD stops just short of 1.30 in early Wednesday bump

Wednesday kicks off with an early pop for the GBP ahead of the London market open.
The midweek remains clear of high-impact data, leaving market sentiment to fend for itself amidst trade wars and Brexit finagling.

Joshua Gibson FXStreet

The GBP/USD is trading back into the 1.3000 major technical level as the US Dollar downshifts in early Wednesday action, fueled by risk-bullish headlines from the European continent.

Brexit headlines continue to dominate Sterling traders' headspace, and a steady stream of inconclusive talking heads brandishing their positions on Brexit has seen confidence in the UK continue to wane steadily as glimmers of hope for successful trade talks between the EU and the UK give way to bouts of hard selling as Britain seems no closer to a workable exit from the European Union than it did immediately following the Brexit referendum.

The Italian government announced they would be willing to reduce their federal deficit to back below 2% in 2021, and the broader Euro-area saw a brief bounce in market sentiment, taking both the EUR and the GBP briefly higher, and the Pound is now trading just shy of the 1.3000 handle.

The economic calendar is clear of any meaningful UK data for Wednesday, and traders will be keeping an eye out for continued headlines covering both Brexit and political tensions within the Eurozone, and early Wednesday's pop in the Sterling could find itself getting faded as the day unfolds.

GBP/USD levels to watch

The Pound could be primed for another leg down as technical indicators have reloaded their neutral stances, and as FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik noted: "technical indicators have corrected oversold readings before losing directional strength within negative readings, while the 20 SMA is currently crossing below the 200 EMA, reflecting the strength of sellers. Of course, the pair is little about technical readings and all about Brexit, with the pair's direction depending on which kind of Brexit the market believes it will take place."

Support levels: 1.2970 1.2940 1.2900

Resistance levels: 1.3010 1.3035 1.3065

Author

Joshua Gibson

FXStreet

Joshua joins the FXStreet team as an Economics and Finance double major from Vancouver Island University with twelve years' experience as an independent trader focusing on technical analysis.

AUD/USD keeps range near mid-0.7100s as USD bulls await US CPI

AUD/USD steadies near mid-0.7100s in the Asian session on Friday, stalling the previous day's sharp decline to an over one-week low. The August PPI report reaffirmed Fed rate-hike bets and boosted the US Dollar on Thursday, which weighed heavily on the pair. However, hawkish RBA expectations limited losses for the Aussie as USD bulls now await the release of the US consumer inflation figures before placing fresh bets.

USD/JPY holds lower ground toward 154.00; looks to US CPI

USD/JPY holds lower ground toward 154.00 in the Asian session on Friday after hot Japanese PPI data bolster a more hawkish BoJ repricing and provide fresh impetus to the Japanese Yen. However, the downside appears capped as the US Dollar preserves overnight gains ahead of the latest US consumer inflation data.

Gold bounces-off weekly lows near $4,300 as focus shifts to US CPI

Gold rebounds from its lowest level in over a week, near $4,310, in the Asian session on Friday as rising Fed rate-hike bets, bolstered by US PPI, underpin the US Dollar. Traders now look to the US CPI report for more cues about the Fed's policy path amid inflation risks stemming from higher energy prices due to the Middle East conflict. The outlook will drive the USD and influence the non-yielding bullion.

Ethereum holds above $2,400 as PPI data strengthens rate hike expectations

Ethereum (ETH) is down 0.7% on Thursday as the second-largest cryptocurrency looks to recover from earlier pressure following the release of stronger US inflation data. The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand rose 0.4% in August, matching market expectations after a revised 0.1% increase in July, according to the US Labor Department.

Dollar comeback case 'a decent one' – September Fed hike 'back in play'

The dollar was left nursing heavy losses against most of its major peers after last month’s Treasury buyback wobble. Notwithstanding this, we think that the case for a near-term bounce in the greenback is a decent one. Warsh's hawkish pivot at Jackson Hole, followed by what was a blowout US payrolls report for August, has put a September rate hike from the Fed back in play.

Venezuela’s 65-billion-barrel Oil deal could reshape America’s inflation fight

The United States (US) has secured unprecedented access to part of Venezuela’s vast Oil reserves. The timing is particularly significant as the war with Iran is disrupting Middle Eastern supplies, keeping energy prices elevated and reviving concerns about inflation.