GBP/USD technical analysis: Waits for a channel breakout [Video]

Christina Parthenidou XM

GBPUSD extended its recovery from a 5 ½-month low of 1.3570 marginally above the 1.3800 level and the 20-day simple moving average (SMA) on Monday but another obstacle has emerged.

The price is currently battling the surface of a descending channel and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the latest downfall at 1.3829. Should efforts prove fruitful, the door would open for the 50% Fibonacci of 1.3900, while within breathing distance, the 50-day SMA at 1.3952 may cancel any corrections towards the 61.8% Fibonacci of 1.4032.

The upside reversal in the momentum indicators is endorsing the above bullish scenario, though downside corrections cannot be excluded as long as the RSI keeps hovering below its 50 neutral levels and the Stochastics flirt with overbought levels.

Failure to bounce above the trendline and the 1.3829 barriers could see another test near the 23.6% Fibonacci of 1.3730 and the 200-day SMA. Breaching this floor, the bears could take a rest near the 1.3668 support region before gearing down to meet the 1.3570 low. Beneath the latter, the channel’s bottom line could be the next pivot point around 1.3500.

Summarizing, despite its latest rebound, GBPUSD has yet to confirm a bullish bias, with traders waiting for a close above the descending channel to increase exposure in the market.

Author

Christina Parthenidou

Christina joined the XM investment research department in May 2017. She holds a master degree in Economics and Business from the Erasmus University Rotterdam with a specialization in International economics.

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

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 climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

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.