Pound Sterling Price News and Forecast: GBP/USD trades higher even as UK Retail Sales decline sharply

FXStreet Team FXStreet

Pound Sterling trades higher even as UK Retail Sales decline sharply in May

The Pound Sterling (GBP) trades firmly against its major peers on Friday despite United Kingdom (UK) Retail Sales data declined sharply in May.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that Retail Sales, a key measure of consumer spending, declined by 2.7% on month, the sharpest drop seen since December 2023. Economists expected the consumer spending measure to have contracted at a moderate pace of 0.5% after expanding by 1.3% in April, upwardly revised from 1.2%. Read more...

GBP/USD Forecast: Pound Sterling holds ground as markets assess BoE outlook, geopolitics

GBP/USD trades modestly higher on the day at around 1.3500 after closing in positive territory on Thursday. The pair, however, could have a difficult time gathering bullish momentum in the near term.

The Bank of England (BoE) announced on Thursday that it maintained the bank rate at 4.25%, as expected. Three members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), however, voted in favor of a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut, citing material further loosening in the labour market, subdued consumer demand and pay deals near sustainable rates. In the policy statement, the BoE reiterated that a gradual and careful approach to the further withdrawal of monetary policy restraint remains appropriate. Read more...

Author

FXStreet Team

FXStreet

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD struggles for direction amid USD gains

EUR/USD is trimming part of its earlier gains, coming under some mild downside pressure near 1.1730 as the US Dollar edges higher. Markets are still digesting the Fed’s latest rate decision, while also looking ahead to more commentary from Fed officials in the sessions ahead.

GBP/USD drops to daily lows near 1.3360

Disappointing UK data weighed on the Sterling towards the end of the week, triggering a pullback in GBP/USD to fresh daily lows near 1.3360. Looking ahead, the next key event across the Channel is the BoE meeting on December 18.

Gold losses momentum, challenges $4,300

Gold now gives away some gains and disputes the key $4,300 zone per troy ounce following earlier multi-week highs. The move is being driven by expectations that the Fed will deliver further rate cuts next year, with the yellow metal climbing despite a firmer Greenback and rising US Treasury yields across the board.

Litecoin Price Forecast: LTC struggles to extend gains, bullish bets at risk

Litecoin (LTC) price steadies above $80 at press time on Friday, following a reversal from the $87 resistance level on Wednesday. Derivatives data suggests a bullish positional buildup while the LTC futures Open Interest declines, flashing a long squeeze risk.

Big week ends with big doubts

The S&P 500 continued to push higher yesterday as the US 2-year yield wavered around the 3.50% mark following a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut earlier this week that was ultimately perceived as not that hawkish after all. The cut is especially boosting the non-tech pockets of the market.

Aave Price Forecast: AAVE primed for breakout as bullish signals strengthen

Aave (AAVE) price is trading above $204 at the time of writing on Friday and approaching the upper boundary of its descending parallel channel; a breakout from this structure would favor the bulls.