|

GBP/USD fumbles the 1.34 handle as UK Average Earnings close in

  • Sterling leaning towards the downside ahead of UK's Average Earnings figures, expected to hold flat.
  • Brexit votes this week could hamper PM May's efforts for securing a clean EU exit.

The GBP/USD is trading down on the week, testing 1.3360 as the upcoming Tuesday session brings the UK's first foray into economic data for the week.

The Sterling tapped into a new low this week as the pair's recovery to 1.3471 appears to be over, and the GBP/USD is shifting lower in sharp jolts as sentiment over Brexit developments continues to sour, with the UK's Prime Minister, Theresa May, locked in a grim battle between hard-line Brexiteers and EU leadership in Brussels. This week sees a rash of key voting items over Brexit in the UK's parliament, and depending on how the voting goes, PM May could see an even longer fall down the Brexit hole with the British parliament set to force itself into the negotiation process.

Average earnings for the UK are due at 08:30 GMT today, with the headline earnings (excluding bonuses) expected to print at 2.9%, in-line with the previous figure. The UK's economy is battling back from a worse-than-expected downturn in macro figures for the first quarter of 2018, and the Bank of England (BoE) is desperately hoping for a quick turnaround in order to get their plans for prompt rate hikes back on track.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

The Sterling has been cycling into subsequent lows in rough trading, and hourly indicators remain biased towards further downside momentum, while the pair's overall technical stance leans lower, with action capped off by the recent turnaround from 1.3471.

Spot rate: 1.3360
Relative change: -0.10%
High: 1.3383
Low: 1.3346

Trend: Flat to bearish

Support 1: 1.3344 (current week's low)
Support 2: 1.3294 (previous week's low)
Support 3: 1.3204 (major psychological handle, major technical bottom)

Resistance 1: 1.3441 (current week's high)
Resistance 2: 1.3471 (technical recovery top)
Resistance 3:1.3503 (161.8% 1-Day Fibonacci level)

Author

Joshua Gibson

Joshua joins the FXStreet team as an Economics and Finance double major from Vancouver Island University with twelve years' experience as an independent trader focusing on technical analysis.

More from Joshua Gibson
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD retreats below 1.1800 following earlier rebound

EUR/USD loses its recovery momentum and trades little-changed on the day below 1.1300 in the second half of the day on Wednesday. The modest improvement seen in risk mood limits the US Dollar's gains and allows the pair to hold its ground.

GBP/USD clings to small gains above 1.3500

GBP/USD is posting moderate gains above 1.3500 on Wednesday. The pair edges higher as the US Dollar meets fresh supply amid a modest improvement seen in risk sentiment following US President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address.

Gold rises toward $5,200, supported by geopolitics and trade jitters

Gold buyers are back in the game, eyeing $5,200 and beyonf on Wednesday after seeing a correction from monthly highs on Tuesday. The US Dollar slips after Trump’s SOTU fails to impress and as AI-driven worries ease. Dovish Fed bets also weigh.  Gold looks north so long as the key 61.8% Fibo resistance at $5,142 holds on the daily chart.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple post cautious recovery amid downside risks

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are posting a cautious recovery on Wednesday following a market correction earlier this week.  BTC is approaching a key breakdown level, while ETH and XRP are rebounding from crucial support levels.

Nvidia remains at the heart of the AI boom

Nvidia remains at the heart of the AI boom, with Q4 revenue projected near $65.6–66.1 billion, nearly 70% higher year-over-year. But investors are watching cash flow, leverage, and broader AI adoption. Growth is strong, but the AI stress isn’t over.

Cosmos Hub Price Forecast: ATOM rebounds slightly, bearish outlook remains intact

Cosmos Hub (ATOM) price rebounds, trading above $2.05 at the time of writing on Wednesday, after undergoing a sharp correction since last week. Weakening on-chain and derivatives data support a bearish outlook, while technical analysis remains unfavorable.

GBP/USD fumbles the 1.34 handle as UK Average Earnings close in