- GBP/USD reaches new peak after Trump advisors hint at targeted tariffs, weakening the US Dollar despite strong US data.
- US Services PMI and JOLTS job openings surpass expectations, signaling robust economic health.
- UK retail sales hit highest level since March 2024, adding to the positive outlook for the Pound amid a light UK economic calendar.
The Pound Sterling rose to a new four-day peak of 1.2575 on Tuesday after posting its biggest gain in the last three days. The Washington Post revealed that US President-elect Donald Trump's advisers considered applying tariffs to specific imports, weakening the Greenback, which of late was boosted after upbeat US data. The GBP/USD trades at 1.2495, down by 0.12%.
Strong ISM Services PMI and JOLTS data, weighed on the GBP/USD pair
US equities remain mixed early during the North American session. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) revealed that Services PMI rose by 54.1, exceeding estimates of 53.3 up from 52.1.
At the same time, the US Department of Labor revealed that the number of JOLTS job openings rose sharply, exceeding forecasts of 7.70 million to 8.098 million.
The data suggests the economy is in good shape and overshadowed the release of the Balance of Trade data.
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revealed that the trade deficit widened in November, with the Trade Balance figures coming at $-78.2 billion, more than the $-73.6 billion reported in October.
According to BEA, Imports increased from $339.9 billion to $351.6 billion, a 3.4% increase. US Exports rose from $266.3 billion to $273.4 billion, a 2.7% increase.
In the UK, the British Retail Consortium revealed that retail sales rose 3.2% year over year in December, their highest level since March 2024.
Ahead this week, the UK economic docket remains scarce. In the US, the calendar will feature the ADP National Employment report and Initial Jobless Claims data for the week ending January 4.
GBP/USD Price Forecast: Technical outlook
From a technical standpoint, the GBP/USD daily chart suggests the pair is reversing some of its weekly gains, the release of US data. If the pair drops below 1.2450, look for a retest of 1.2400. On further weakness, the next support would be the January 2 low of 1.2351.
On the other hand, if buyers buy the dip, they could retest 1.2500 and the daily high of 1.2575 before reaching 1.2600.
British Pound PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.24% | 0.20% | 0.48% | 0.20% | 0.03% | -0.03% | 0.53% | |
| EUR | -0.24% | -0.04% | 0.21% | -0.03% | -0.21% | -0.27% | 0.27% | |
| GBP | -0.20% | 0.04% | 0.30% | 0.01% | -0.17% | -0.23% | 0.32% | |
| JPY | -0.48% | -0.21% | -0.30% | -0.28% | -0.44% | -0.52% | 0.04% | |
| CAD | -0.20% | 0.03% | -0.01% | 0.28% | -0.17% | -0.23% | 0.31% | |
| AUD | -0.03% | 0.21% | 0.17% | 0.44% | 0.17% | -0.06% | 0.48% | |
| NZD | 0.03% | 0.27% | 0.23% | 0.52% | 0.23% | 0.06% | 0.55% | |
| CHF | -0.53% | -0.27% | -0.32% | -0.04% | -0.31% | -0.48% | -0.55% |
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).
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 below 1.0300 ahead of FOMC Minutes
EUR/USD stays under heavy selling pressure and trades below 1.0300 on Wednesday. News of US President-elect Donald Trump planning to declare an economic emergency to allow for a new tariff plan weighs on risk mood. US ADP misses expectations with 122K vs 140 anticipated.
GBP/USD drops to fresh multi-month lows, approaches 1.2300
GBP/USD remains on the back foot and trades at its weakest level since April, below 1.2350. The risk-averse market atmosphere on growing concerns over an aggressive tariff policy by President-elect Donald Trump drags the pair lower as focus shifts to US FOMC Minutes.
Gold stabilizes near $2,650; upside seems limited ahead of FOMC Minutes
Gold price (XAU/USD) fluctuates in a narrow range at around $2,650 on Wednesday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield holds at its highest level since late April near 4.7%, making it difficult for XAU/USD ahead of FOMC Minutes.
Bitcoin edges below $96,000, wiping over leveraged traders
Bitcoin's price continues to edge lower, trading below the $96,000 level on Wednesday after declining more than 5% the previous day. The recent price decline has triggered a wave of liquidations across the crypto market, resulting in $694.11 million in total liquidations in the last 24 hours.
Five fundamentals for the week: Nonfarm Payrolls to keep traders on edge in first full week of 2025 Premium
Did the US economy enjoy a strong finish to 2024? That is the question in the first full week of trading in 2025. The all-important NFP stand out, but a look at the Federal Reserve and the Chinese economy is also of interest.
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.