• GBP/USD has been treading water following technical correction.
  • Heightened concerns over the UK triggering Article 16 limit the pound's recovery. 
  • The greenback holds its ground ahead of US inflation data.

GBP/USD remains at the mercy of the dollar's market valuation as heightened concerns over the UK triggering Article 16 don't allow the British pound to find demand. 

Following Monday's decisive rebound, GBP/USD failed to reclaim 1.3600 with the greenback holding its ground against its major rivals amid the negative shift witnessed in market sentiment. Reflecting the dollar's resilience, the US Dollar Index trades in the positive territory above 94.00 in the early European session on Wednesday.

The European Union made it clear that there will be "serious consequences" if the UK were to trigger Article 16. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney even said that they could shelve the whole Brexit agreement.

Meanwhile, The UK's National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) noted that they expect the Bank of England (BoE) to lift the policy rate to 0.5% by the second quarter of 2022. The fact that this headline was ignored by markets shows that participants are awaiting Brexit developments before reassessing the BoE's policy outlook and its impact on the pound.

Later in the day, the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the US will be looked upon for fresh impetus. Unless the annual Core CPI misses the market expectation of 4% by a wide margin, the dollar is preserve its strength and limit GBP/USD's upside.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

Initial resistance is located at 1.3570 (Fibonacci 61.8% retracement of the latest uptrend). Despite rising above that level on Tuesday, GBP/USD retreated and candles on the four-hour chart closed below this hurdle, showing the buyers' unwillingness to commit to a steady recovery. On the same chart, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is moving sideways near 50.

On the downside,  the 20-period SMA could be seen as first support at 1.3520 ahead of 1.3500 (psychological level) and 1.3475 (static level).

In case buyers manage to flip 1.3570 into support, additional gains toward 1.3600 (50-period SMA) and 1.3630 (Fibonacci 50% retracement of the latest uptrend) could be witnessed. 

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

USD/JPY remains below 158.00 after Japanese data

USD/JPY remains below 158.00 after Japanese data

Soft US Dollar demand helps the Japanese Yen to trim part of its recent losses, with USD/JPY changing hands around 157.70. Higher than anticipated Tokyo inflation passed unnoticed.

USD/JPY News
AUD/USD weakens to near 0.6200 amid thin trading

AUD/USD weakens to near 0.6200 amid thin trading

The AUD/USD pair remains on the defensive around 0.6215 during the early Asian session on Friday. The incoming Donald Trump administration is expected to boost growth and lift inflation, supporting the US Dollar (USD). The markets are likely to be quiet ahead of next week’s New Year holiday.

AUD/USD News
Gold hovers around $2,630 in thin trading

Gold hovers around $2,630 in thin trading

The US Dollar returns from the Christmas holidays with a soft tone, although market action seems contained. The positive tone of Asian shares weighs on the Greenback.

Gold News
Floki DAO floats liquidity provisioning for a Floki ETP in Europe

Floki DAO floats liquidity provisioning for a Floki ETP in Europe

Floki DAO — the organization that manages the memecoin Floki — has proposed allocating a portion of its treasury to an asset manager in a bid to launch an exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, allowing institutional investors to gain exposure to the memecoin.

Read more
2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?

2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?

As the door closes in 2024, and while the year feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye, a lot has happened. If I had to summarise it all in four words, it would be: ‘a year of surprises’.

Read more
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures