- GBP/USD clings to modest gains above 1.3150 in the European session on Thursday.
- The near-term technical outlook points to a bullish tilt.
- The US economic docket will feature ADP Employment Change for August.
GBP/USD holds its ground and trades in positive territory above 1.3150 after closing higher on Wednesday. Investors await August ADP Employment Change data from the US.
British Pound PRICE This week
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies this week. British Pound was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.44% | -0.28% | -1.81% | 0.15% | 0.58% | 0.67% | -0.39% | |
| EUR | 0.44% | 0.18% | -1.39% | 0.57% | 1.03% | 1.10% | 0.03% | |
| GBP | 0.28% | -0.18% | -1.55% | 0.38% | 0.83% | 0.95% | -0.16% | |
| JPY | 1.81% | 1.39% | 1.55% | 1.96% | 2.47% | 2.66% | 1.39% | |
| CAD | -0.15% | -0.57% | -0.38% | -1.96% | 0.48% | 0.52% | -0.54% | |
| AUD | -0.58% | -1.03% | -0.83% | -2.47% | -0.48% | 0.05% | -0.98% | |
| NZD | -0.67% | -1.10% | -0.95% | -2.66% | -0.52% | -0.05% | -1.05% | |
| CHF | 0.39% | -0.03% | 0.16% | -1.39% | 0.54% | 0.98% | 1.05% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
The renewed US Dollar (USD) weakness helped GBP/USD gain traction during the American trading hours on Wednesday. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that JOLTS Job Openings declined to 7.67 million in July from 7.9 million in June. As this reading missed the market expectation of 8.1 million by a wide margin, the immediate reaction caused the USD to weaken against its rivals.
Nevertheless, the cautious market stance helped the USD to limit its losses and capped GBP/USD's upside toward the end of the day.
ADP Employment Change is expected to come in at 145,000 in August. In case the report shows that there was job-creation at a softer pace than expected, with a reading close to 100,000, the USD could struggle to find demand and allow GBP/USD to continue to stretch higher. On the flip side, an upbeat print above 150,000 could ease fears over worsening conditions in the labor market ahead of Friday's August jobs report, supporting the USD and capping the pair's upside.
GBP/USD Technical Analysis
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the 4-hour chart climbed above 60 and GBP/USD closed the last five 4-hour candles above the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA), reflecting strengthening buyer interest.
On the upside, 1.3200 (psychological level, static level) aligns as next resistance before 1.3260 (end-point of the latest uptrend). In case the pair drops below 1.3130 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement of the latest uptrend, 20-period SMA), 1.3100 (psychological level, static level) could be seen as next support before 1.3075 (100-period SMA).
Pound Sterling FAQs
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, aka ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays vulnerable near 1.0600 ahead of US inflation data
EUR/USD remains under pressure near 1.0600 in European trading on Wednesday. The pair faces headwinds from the US Dollar upsurge, Germany's political instability and a cautiou market mood, as traders look to US CPI data and Fedspeak for fresh directives.
GBP/USD trades with caution below 1.2750, awaits BoE Mann, US CPI
GBP/USD trades with caution below 1.2750 in the European session on Wednesday, holding its losing streak. Traders turn risk-averse and refrain from placing fresh bets on the pair ahead of BoE policymaker Mann's speech and US CPI data.
Gold price holds above $2,600 mark, bulls seem non committed ahead of US CPI
Gold price staged a modest recovery from a nearly two-month low touched on Tuesday. Elevated US bond yields and bullish USD cap gains for the non-yielding XAU/USD. Traders now look forward to the key US Consumer Price Index report a fresh impetus.
US CPI data set to confirm inflation ramped up in October as traders pare back Fed rate cut bets
As measured by the CPI, inflation in the US is expected to increase at an annual rate of 2.6% in October, a tad higher than the 2.4% growth reported in September. The core annual CPI inflation, excluding volatile food and energy prices, will likely remain at 3.3% in the same period.
Forex: Trump 2.0 – A high-stakes economic rollercoaster for global markets
The "Trump trade" is back in full force, shaking up global markets in the aftermath of the November 5th U.S. election. This resurgence has led to substantial shifts in both currency and bond markets, with the U.S. dollar index (DXY) jumping 2.0% + since election day.
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.