|

GBP/USD: Focus on stocks

  • Risk aversion could hurt GBP and vice versa.
  • Charts favor further upside in Sterling.

GBP/USD jumped to 1.4218 last week - the highest level since Feb. 2 on the back of a brexit transitional agreement and strong UK data.

However, cable's jets were cooled by fears of US-China trade war and the resulting risk aversion in the stock markets. The spot ticked higher in Asia and was last seen trading at 1.4164 as the S&P 500 futures jumped 0.5 percent on reports the US and China are working to avert a full-blown trade war.

Focus on stocks

The relief rally in the stocks will likely gather pace if both nations soften their stance on trade. In such a scenario, the GBP/USD pair could revisit and may possibly break above the last week's high of 1.4218. Meanwhile, risk aversion could yield a pullback to 10-day moving average located at 1.4035. It is worth noting that British Pound still ranks last on the list of the anti-risk currencies, courtesy of UK's current account deficit.

Technical bias remains bullish

A sequence of higher highs and lower highs, upward sloping (biased bullish) 5-day MA, 10-day MA and the bullish RSI (above 50.00 and trending) indicates scope for a rally to 1.4278 (Feb. 2 high). A close higher would allow a sustained rally to 1.4345 (recent high). On the downside, breach of support at 1.4107 (5-day MA) could yield a pullback to 1.4036 (10-day MA) and 1.40 (psychological support).

 TREND INDEXOB/OS INDEXVOLATILY INDEX
15MOverbought Low
1HNeutral Shrinking
4HBullishNeutral Low
1DBullishNeutral Expanding
1WBullishNeutral Expanding

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD climbs to two-week highs beyond 1.1900

EUR/USD is keeping its foot on the gas at the start of the week, reclaiming the 1.1900 barrier and above on Monday. The US Dollar remains on the back foot, with traders reluctant to step in ahead of Wednesday’s key January jobs report, allowing the pair to extend its upward grind for now.

GBP/USD hits three-day peaks, targets 1.3700

GBP/USD is clocking decent gains at the start of the week, advancing to three-day highs near 1.3670 and building on Friday’s solid performance. The better tone in the British Pound comes on the back of the intense sekk-off in the Greenback and despite re-emerging signs of a fresh government crisis in the UK.

Gold treads water around $5,000

Gold is trading in an inconclusive fashion around the key $5,000 mark on Monday week. Support is coming from fresh signs of further buying from the PBoC, while expectations that the Fed could turn more dovish, alongside concerns over its independence, keep the demand for the precious metal running.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin steadies around $70,000, Ethereum and XRP remain under pressure 

Bitcoin hovers around $70,000, up near 15% from last week's low of $60,000 despite low retail demand. Ethereum delicately holds $2,000 support as weak technicals weigh amid declining futures Open Interest. XRP seeks support above $1.40 after facing rejection at $1.54 during the previous week's sharp rebound.

Japanese PM Takaichi nabs unprecedented victory – US data eyed this week

I do not think I would be exaggerating to say that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s snap general election gamble paid off over the weekend – and then some. This secured the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) an unprecedented mandate just three months into her tenure.

Ripple exposed to volatility amid low retail interest, modest fund inflows

Ripple (XRP) is extending its intraday decline to around $1.40 at the time of writing on Monday amid growing pressure from the retail market and risk-off sentiment that continues to keep investors on the sidelines.