|premium|

GBP/USD Forecast: Brexit returns to the limelight

GBP/USD Current price: 1.3154

  • Markets remain in risk-on mode amid hopes for a coronavirus vaccine.
  • UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said that significant progress was made in Brexit talks.
  • GBP/USD is neutral-to-bullish trading above the 1.3100 figure.

The GBP/USD pair is ending the first day of the week unchanged around 1.3150, after reaching a fresh two-month high of 1.3207. The British Pound found eased as speculative interest rushed into the greenback on positive coronavirus vaccine news, but its slump was limited by encouraging Brexit headlines. UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said that significant progress was made in Brexit talks while announcing a plan to provide stability to the financial sector in the post-Brexit era. Meanwhile, EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said they are redoubling their efforts to reach an agreement on the future EU-UK partnership.

The UK calendar had nothing to offer on Monday, but this Tuesday, the kingdom will publish its  October employment figures. The ILO unemployment rate is foreseen rising to 4.8% from 4.5%, while the Claimant Count Change is seen at 36K from 28K in September. Ahead of the monthly employment report, the country will see the release of the BRC Like-For-Like Retail Sales, expected to have increased by 8.4%YoY in October.

GBP/USD short-term technical outlook

The GBP/USD pair held above 1.3100, with approaches to the level attracting buyers. The 4-hour chart shows that the pair remains above a firmly bullish 20 SMA, which continues advancing above the larger ones. The Momentum indicator has eased from daily highs, but is still within positive levels, while the RSI indicator stabilized around 57, indicating limited selling interest at the time being.

Support levels: 1.3110 1.3065 1.3020

Resistance levels: 1.3185 1.3230 1.3290

View Live Chart for the GBP/USD

Premium

You have reached your limit of 3 free articles for this month.

Start your subscription and get access to all our original articles.

Subscribe to PremiumSign In

Author

Valeria Bednarik

Valeria Bednarik was born and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her passion for math and numbers pushed her into studying economics in her younger years.

More from Valeria Bednarik
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD: US Dollar to remain pressured until uncertainty fog dissipates

Unimpressive European Central Bank left monetary policy unchanged for the fifth consecutive meeting. The United States first-tier employment and inflation data is scheduled for the second week of February. EUR/USD battles to remain afloat above 1.1800, sellers moving to the sidelines.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold: Volatility persists in commodity space

After losing more than 8% to end the previous week, Gold remained under heavy selling pressure on Monday and dropped toward $4,400. Although XAU/USD staged a decisive rebound afterward, it failed to stabilize above $5,000. The US economic calendar will feature Nonfarm Payrolls and Consumer Price Index data for January, which could influence the market pricing of the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook and impact Gold’s performance.

Week ahead: US NFP and CPI data to shake Fed cut bets, Japan election looms

US NFP and CPI data awaited after Warsh’s nomination as Fed chief. Yen traders lock gaze on Sunday’s snap election. UK and Eurozone Q4 GDP data also on the agenda. China CPI and PPI could reveal more weakness in domestic demand.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans. 

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.