|

GBP/USD treads water, with upside attempts limited below 1.2670

  • The Pound finds support above 1.2580 but it remains unable to extend gains beyond 1.2670.
  • Soft UK data and hawkish comments from Fed speakers are weighing on the Sterling.
  • The USD has failed to capitalize on better-than-expected US GDP and Jobless Claims figures

The Sterling found support at the 1.2580 area earlier today, before bouncing up, favoured by a somewhat softer US Dollar during Thursday’s US Session. The pair, however, remains capped below 1.2665, which leaves the broader bearish trend unchanged.

The pair has been trading back and forth within a 100-pip horizontal channel, consolidating losses following a decline from Year-To-Date highs near 1.2900 in early March.

Soft UK data and hawkish Fedspeak weighing on the GBP

UK macroeconomic figures have weighed on the Sterling. The quarterly GDP revealed that the country entered recession in the last months of 2023 and inflation has cooled faster than expected, boosting hopes that the BoE could start cutting rates at the same time as the Fed, if not earlier.

In the US, Fed Governor Waller suggested that the Fed might keep interest rates higher for longer, which provided a fresh boost to the US Dollar. Investors are now looking at Friday’s PCE Prices Index to reassess the chances  of a June rate cut

Macroeconomic data released on Thursday revealed that the US economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the fourth quarter while Weekly Jobless Claims declined, adding to the evidence of the strong US labour market. The impact on the US Dollar, however, has been minor.

GBP/USD Technical levels to watch

GBP/USD

Overview
Today last price1.2628
Today Daily Change-0.0013
Today Daily Change %-0.10
Today daily open1.2641
 
Trends
Daily SMA201.2719
Daily SMA501.2679
Daily SMA1001.2649
Daily SMA2001.2591
 
Levels
Previous Daily High1.2641
Previous Daily Low1.2606
Previous Weekly High1.2804
Previous Weekly Low1.2575
Previous Monthly High1.2773
Previous Monthly Low1.2518
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%1.2628
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%1.2619
Daily Pivot Point S11.2617
Daily Pivot Point S21.2593
Daily Pivot Point S31.2581
Daily Pivot Point R11.2653
Daily Pivot Point R21.2665
Daily Pivot Point R31.2688

Author

Guillermo Alcala

Graduated in Communication Sciences at the Universidad del Pais Vasco and Universiteit van Amsterdam, Guillermo has been working as financial news editor and copywriter in diverse Forex-related firms, like FXStreet and Kantox.

More from Guillermo Alcala
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD languishes near two-month low amid renewed Iran tensions

AUD/USD holds above 0.7000 during the Asian session on Wednesday, though it remains close to a nearly two-month low set the previous day. Fresh US strikes on Iran temper hopes for a peace deal and benefit the safe-haven US Dollar. Furthermore, inflationary concerns continue to fuel hawkish Fed expectations, lending additional support to the buck ahead of the US CPI report. Adding to this, reduced bets on an RBA rate hike in June cap the currency pair.


USD/JPY sits near 160.50 intervention zone as bulls shrug off Japan's strong PPI

USD/JPY consolidates just below mid-160.00s, or its highest level since late April, as economic concerns stemming from the Middle East conflict continue to undermine the Japanese Yen (JPY). Furthermore, a fresh wave of US strikes on Iran benefits the safe-haven US Dollar and acts as a tailwind for the currency pair, countering Japan's hotter-than-expected PPI report. However, intervention fears cap the upside as traders seem hesitant ahead of the US consumer inflation figures later this Wednesday.

Gold flirts with $4,200, lowest since March 23 on hawkish Fed bets

Gold drops to a fresh low since March 23, around the $4,200 mark during the Asian session on Wednesday, as fresh US strikes on Iran fuel inflationary concerns and bolster bets for more hawkish central banks, including the US Fed. Meanwhile, US Dollar bulls are turning cautious ahead of the US CPI report, which could limit bullion losses. However, the recent breakdown below the 200-day SMA suggests that the path of least resistance for the XAU/USD is to the downside.

Bitcoin sell-off pushes over 50% of circulating supply into loss, hinting at market bottom

Bitcoin dropped near $61,000 on Tuesday, with the latest sell-off pushing long-term market indicators toward levels historically associated with bear-market bottoms, according to a report by K33 Research.

When the chips are down, the AI tape starts to shake

The market came into Tuesday trying to sell investors the comforting ”Turnaround Tuesday” idea that Friday’s AI fracture was just another pothole on the road higher. By the close, that story had lost its bid. Monday’s dead cat bounce had done what dead cat bounces always do.

The US economy defies the rules: 100 days into the Oil shock and the recession signal is still missing

More than three months after the start of the Iran war and the resulting disruption to global energy markets, the US economy continues to display remarkable resilience. The conflict has triggered a sharp rise in Oil prices, reignited inflationary pressures and fueled widespread concerns about a potential economic slowdown.