|

GBP/USD - Widening of US-UK Yield differential to trigger a bearish breakdown?

  • 10Y and 2Y US-UK yield differential rises in the GBP-negative manner despite upbeat UK GDP reading.
  • GBP/USD fell to 1.3147 on Thursday and extended losses to 1.3113 in the Asian session today.
  • The daily chart shows a symmetrical triangle pattern.

GBP/USD failed to capitalize on the Wednesday's bullish outside day candle yesterday as the bond yield differential turned a blind eye towards upbeat UK GDP reading and continued to rise in the GBP-negative manner.

Symmetrical triangle on the daily chart

The sell-off from the Sep. 20 high of 1.3657 ran out of steam at 1.3027 (Oct. 10 low). Since then the pair has moved in the sideways manner, setting higher lows and lower highs pattern i.e. symmetrical triangle formation.

A bearish breakdown (a break below triangle support of 1.3113) would signal continuation of the bearish move from 1.3657.

US-UK Yield differential continues to rise

Currently, the 2Y US-UK yield differential stands at 115 basis points; highest level since Sep. 1. Meanwhile, the 10Y US-UK yield differential hovers at 6-1/2 week high of 107 basis points. The yield spread is likely to rise further if the preliminary US Q3 GDP reading prints higher than expected, in which case the GBP/USD could suffer a bearish symmetrical triangle breakdown. On the other hand, a weaker-than-expected US GDP reading would help Cable regain poise.

GBP/USD Technical Levels

An end of the day close below 1.3113 would open doors for a sustained move lower to 1.30 (psychological level). A break lower could force bulls to unwind their shorts leading to a much deeper drop to 1.2839 (200-day MA). On the higher side, a move above 1.3162 (Asian session high) could yield 1.3189 (1-hour 200-MA) and 1.32 (zero levels).

 TREND INDEXOB/OS INDEXVOLATILY INDEX
15MBearishNeutral Shrinking
1HBearishOversold Low
4HBearishNeutral High
1DStrongly BearishNeutral Shrinking
1WBearishNeutral High

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD hits multi-week tops around 1.3560

GBP/USD gathers fresh steam and advances to new three-month peaks near the 1.3560 zone on Friday. Cable’s sharp move higher comes after three daily drops in a row and follows the increasing selling pressure hurting the Greenback.

EUR/USD pops to fresh two-month highs, targets 1.1600

EUR/USD advances markedly, revisiting the upper 1.1500s for the first time since mid-June. The pair’s sharp uptick comes on the back of a strong retracement in the US Dollar amid BoJ intervention chatter and despite steady uncertainty in the Middle East.

Gold picks up pace, approaches $4,400

Gold rebounds toward the $4,400 mark per troy ounce on Friday, reversing the previous day’s pullback. The precious metal’s recovery comes as fresh and intense weakness keep weighing on the US Dollar, while traders keep assessing easing expectations of an imminent Fed interest rate hike and the situation from the Middle East.

Pi Network Price Forecast: PI extends consolidation as bulls eye $0.10
Pi Network (PI) price holds steady on Friday, maintaining a consolidating tone for three consecutive days. Mild retail strength in the PI token remains stable, with Open Interest above $9 million, while social buzz eases. PI token’s technical outlook is mixed, as bearish momentum wanes to neutral, with bulls eyeing the $0.1000 psychological level.
 Weekly focus: Some relief in US inflation concerns

Actual inflation data for July came out as expected with a 0.1% m/m increase in headline CPI and 0.2% excluding food and energy. Annual headline inflation remains too high at 3.4% and means that wage earners are experiencing stagnating spending power at best, and core inflation is a bit higher than the inflation target of two percent would suggest.

Why is Crude Oil priced for a reopening the ships haven't made?
Fourteen vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Before the war, the count ran near 120 a day. In the sessions since the waterway was publicly declared open, Brent has drifted back to $87 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to $81, both a little lower again on Wednesday, with daily momentum on each unwound from the top of its range in late July to the low twenties now.