- A subdued USD price action extended some support to GBP/USD on Friday.
- The prevalent risk-off mood might help limit the fall for the safe-haven USD.
- Fears of new COVID-19 restrictions in the UK should cap any strong gains.
The GBP/USD pair quickly recovered around 40 pips from sub-1.2900 levels and refreshed daily tops in the last hour, albeit lacked any strong follow-through.
The pair struggled to capitalize on the previous day's late rebound of around 45 pips from near two-week lows and was seen oscillating in a range through the first half of the trading action on Friday. The US dollar bulls refrained from placing fresh bets amid the uncertainty about the actual outcome of the US presidential election. A subdued USD demand was seen as a key factor lending some support to the GBP/USD pair.
However, concerns about the economic fallout from the continuous surge in new coronavirus cases continued weighing on investors' sentiment. This was evident from a steep decline in the US equity markets, which extended some support to the greenback's relative safe-haven status. The greenback was further supported by Thursday's stronger US Q3 GDP growth figures. This, in turn, capped the upside for the GBP/USD pair.
Investors also seemed reluctant, rather prefered to remain on the sidelines amid persistent Brexit-related uncertainties. Adding to this, fears that the UK government could impose stricter/nationwide lockdown measures to curb the rapid rise in new COVID-19 case might further collaborate to keep a lid on any further gains for the GBP/USD pair.
There isn't any major market-moving economic data due for release from the UK. Meanwhile, the US economic docket features the second-tier releases of Core PCE Price Index, Chicago PMI and revised Michigan Consumer Sentiment. The data, along with the broader market risk sentiment, will influence the USD price dynamics and produce some trading opportunities.
Technical levels to watch
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD clings to daily gains above 1.0650
EUR/USD gained traction and turned positive on the day above 1.0650. The improvement seen in risk mood following the earlier flight to safety weighs on the US Dollar ahead of the weekend and helps the pair push higher.
GBP/USD recovers toward 1.2450 after UK Retail Sales data
GBP/USD reversed its direction and advanced to the 1.2450 area after touching a fresh multi-month low below 1.2400 in the Asian session. The positive shift seen in risk mood on easing fears over a deepening Iran-Israel conflict supports the pair.
Gold holds steady at around $2,380 following earlier spike
Gold stabilized near $2,380 after spiking above $2,400 with the immediate reaction to reports of Israel striking Iran. Meanwhile, the pullback seen in the US Treasury bond yields helps XAU/USD hold its ground.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC post-halving rally could be partially priced in Premium
Bitcoin price shows no signs of directional bias while it holds above $60,000. The fourth BTC halving is partially priced in, according to Deutsche Bank’s research.
Week ahead – US GDP and BoJ decision on top of next week’s agenda
US GDP, core PCE and PMIs the next tests for the Dollar. Investors await BoJ for guidance about next rate hike. EU and UK PMIs, as well as Australian CPIs also on tap.