Pound Sterling Price News and Forecast: GBP/USD faces challenges as the US Dollar strengthens

FXStreet Team FXStreet

GBP/USD struggles near 1.2300 due to differing policy stances between central banks

GBP/USD remains subdued for the second successive session, trading around 1.2320 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair faces challenges as the US Dollar (USD) received support as President Donald Trump issued a memorandum instructing federal agencies to investigate and address ongoing trade deficits.

The Greenback could further appreciate as traders expect the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep its benchmark overnight rate steady in the 4.25%-4.50% range at its January meeting. Moreover, Trump’s policies could drive inflationary pressures, potentially limiting the Fed to just one more rate cut. Read more...

GBP/USD eases back as markets tiptoe through the midweek

GBP/USD softened on Wednesday, easing back around one-fifth of one percent as markets await a decisive trigger to tilt risk appetite one way or another. Markets are hunkering down during a slow midweek gap between key data releases, and Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) figures are the light at the end of this week’s tunnel.

With Thursday slated to be a low-tier release day, Cable traders will be pivoting to focus on Friday’s S&P Global PMI figures due on both sides of the Atlantic. Both UK and US PMI business activity survey results for January are expected to come in mixed this week, with the services components expected to tick down and manufacturing to recover, albeit slightly. PMI figures generally have a limited impact unless figures come in wildly out of sync with forecasts, but survey respondent rates tend to be on the low side, and the overall figures should be taken with a grain of salt. Read more...

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EUR/USD: Gains remain capped by 1.1650

EUR/USD remains in recovery-mode following the closing bell in Euroland on Wednesday, hovering around the 1.1650 zone amid renewed downside pressure on the US Dollar and a marginal improvement in the global sentiment.

GBP/USD appears bid around 1.3370

GBP/USD reverses part of its recent multi-day decline, gathering some balance and managing to reach the 1.3400 region, where some initial resistance seems to have turned up. Cable’s uptick comes in response to some loss of momentum in the Greenback despite the geopolitical scenario remaining fragile.

Gold struggles to surpass $5,200

Gold keeps its daily gains well in place, although a break above the $5,200 mark per troy ounce still remains elusive on Wednesday. The yellow metal’s rebound comes in response to the persistent flight-to-safety amid intense geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the bearish performance of the US Dollar.