- GBP/USD struggles to capitalize on its intraday uptick and meets with a fresh supply on Friday.
- The BoE’s less hawkish tilt overshadows slightly better UK macro data and undermines the GBP.
- The USD climbs to a nearly two-week high and further exerts downward pressure on the major.
The GBP/USD pair attracts fresh sellers following an early uptick to the 1.2540 region on Friday and drops to a one-and-half-week low during the early North American session. Spot prices slip below the 1.2500 psychological mark, with bears now awaiting a break below through the lower end of an ascending trend channel extending from the April swing low before placing fresh bets.
The British Pound continues to be undermined by the Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey's less hawkish comments on Thursday, indicating the possibility of a sharp fall in UK inflation. This, to a larger extent, overshadows mostly in-line UK GDP print for the first quarter of 2023 and the better-than-expected UK Manufacturing/Industrial Production figures for March. Apart from this, some follow-through US Dollar (USD) buying for the second straight day prompts some intraday selling around the GBP/USD pair.
In fact, the USD Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, hits a one-and-half-week high amid fears about a global economic slowdown. The market worries resurfaced following the mixed release of Chinese inflation figures and the US labor market report on Thursday. That said, concerns about the US debt ceiling, along with a generally positive tone around the equity markets, keeps a lid on any further gains for the safe-haven Greenback and lends support to the GBP/USD pair, at least for now.
The USD bulls also seem reluctant amid the uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's (Fed) next policy move. In fact, the US CPI report released earlier this week pointed to signs of easing inflationary pressures, which could allow the US central bank to pause its rate-hiking cycle. Investors, however, remain divided over the possibility of rate cuts later this year. This makes it prudent to wait for strong follow-through selling before positioning for an extension of the GBP/USD pair's pullback from over a one-year high, around the 1.2680 region touched earlier this week.
Technical levels to watch
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 recovers from two-year lows, stays below 1.0450
EUR/USD recovers modestly and trades above 1.0400 after setting a two-year low below 1.0350 following the disappointing PMI data from Germany and the Eurozone on Friday. Market focus shifts to November PMI data releases from the US.
GBP/USD falls to six-month lows below 1.2550, eyes on US PMI
GBP/USD extends its losses for the third successive session and trades at a fresh fix-month low below 1.2550 on Friday. Disappointing PMI data from the UK weigh on Pound Sterling as investors await US PMI data releases.
Gold price refreshes two-week high, looks to build on momentum beyond $2,700 mark
Gold price hits a fresh two-week top during the first half of the European session on Friday, with bulls now looking to build on the momentum further beyond the $2,700 mark. This marks the fifth successive day of a positive move and is fueled by the global flight to safety amid persistent geopolitical tensions stemming from the intensifying Russia-Ukraine war.
S&P Global PMIs set to signal US economy continued to expand in November
The S&P Global preliminary PMIs for November are likely to show little variation from the October final readings. Markets are undecided on whether the Federal Reserve will lower the policy rate again in December.
Eurozone PMI sounds the alarm about growth once more
The composite PMI dropped from 50 to 48.1, once more stressing growth concerns for the eurozone. Hard data has actually come in better than expected recently – so ahead of the December meeting, the ECB has to figure out whether this is the PMI crying wolf or whether it should take this signal seriously. We think it’s the latter.
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.