- Pound Sterling struggles to build on Monday's gains.
- The Unemployment Rate in the UK edged higher to 4.3% in the three months to March.
- Focus shifts to US PPI data and Fed Chairman Powell's speech.
GBP/USD is having a difficult time gaining traction after rising nearly 0.3% on a daily basis on Monday. Ahead of the US producer inflation data and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell's speech, the pair trades in a narrow band at around 1.2550.
The data published by the UK's Office for National Statistics showed early Tuesday that the ILO Unemployment Rate edged higher to 4.3% in the three months to March from 4.2%. This reading came in line with analysts' estimate. Annual wage inflation, as measured by the change in the Average Earnings Including Bonus, held steady at 5.7% and beat the market expectation of 5.3%. Nevertheless, the mixed data failed to provide a boost to Pound Sterling.
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.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Producer Price Index (PPI) data for April in the early American session on Tuesday. Investors expect the PPI ex Food & Energy to rise 0.2% on a monthly basis. A monthly increase of more than 0.3% in the core PPI could help the USD stay resilient against its rivals. On the other hand, a reading below the market consensus could weigh on the currency and help GBP/USD push higher. Ahead of Wednesday's Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, however, the market reaction could remain short-lived.
In the second half of the day, Fed Chairman Powell will appear at a moderated discussion with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) President Klaas Knot at the Foreign Bankers' Association's Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam. If Powell notes that they will stick to restrictive policy stance for longer than anticipated, investors could refrain from pricing in a rate cut in September and allow the USD to outperform its rivals. The CME FedWatch Tool shows that markets see a less than 40% chance that the Fed will keep the interest rate unchanged in September.
GBP/USD Technical Analysis
The 20-day and the 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMA) form a pivot level at 1.2550. GBP/USD could attract bulls once it stabilizes above this level and starts using it as support. In this scenario, 1.2590-1.2600 (Fibonacci 50% retracement of the latest downtrend, psychological level) and 1.2635 (May 3 high) could be set as next targets.
On the downside, supports are located at 1.2500 (psychological level, 100-period SMA on the 4-hour chart), 1.2450 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement) and 1.2400 (static level, psychological level).
Economic Indicator
Fed's Chair Powell speech
Jerome H. Powell took office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on May 25, 2012, to fill an unexpired term. On November 2, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Powell to serve as the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Powell assumed office as Chair on February 5, 2018.
Read more.Next release: Tue May 14, 2024 14:00
Frequency: Irregular
Consensus: -
Previous: -
Source: Federal Reserve
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