GBP/USD set for a challenge of 1.3000, lagging UK retail sales clouding the picture


  • Despite a bullish push to end the week, Cable markets remain tense as Brexit uncertainty settles in for the long haul.
  • PM May may have won her no-confidence vote, but her hands remain tied, with only days to produce an alternative Brexit deal.

GBP/USD is trading just south of the major 1.3000 handle as Pound sentiment improves heading into the week's end, with the Cable floating near 1.2980 and sticking near Thursday's closing prices.

Retail Sales data is slated for Friday morning, dropping at 09:30 GMT with December's annualized Retail Sales forecast to hold steady at 3.6%, but the decidedly mid-tier data is unlikely to drive much attention as markets remain focused on Brexit developments.

Prime Minister Theresa May, having survived a no-confidence vote, still faces an unwinnable uphill task, with a deadline of Monday to produce an alternative Brexit withdrawal agreement, or PM May may have no choice but to face a Brexit delay despite her government's vehement opposition to such a move. But in the interest of averting an economic disaster in the shape of a hard Brexit, May's government may face no choice but to face down an extension of Article 50, and the Brexit wheel is set to resume turning over slowly after two years of little to no progress, and the grim reality facing the Cable could see the GBP restrained in the long-term, but in the meantime, Pound traders are enjoying a much-needed bounceback at the tail-end of a tough week.

GBP/USD Levels to watch

Despite Brexit uncertainty set to continue into the future, Sterling traders are beginning to finally push out for more gains, and GBP/USD is set for a bullish continuation according to FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik:

The pair is technically bullish, approaching the key 1.3000 mark. The 4 hours chart shows that a bullish 20 SMA keeps providing intraday dynamic support, currently at around 1.2870, while the indicator keeps advancing above the 200 EMA, this last modestly bullish over 200 pips below the current level. The RSI indicator in the mentioned chart near oversold levels, while the Momentum maintains a bullish slope well above its midline, indicating the advance may continue during the upcoming sessions.

Support levels: 1.2930 1.2885 1.2840
Resistance levels: 1.3000 1.3035 1.3080  

Share: Feed news

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


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD breaks below 1.1000 on stellar NFP

EUR/USD breaks below 1.1000 on stellar NFP

The buying bias in the Greenback gathers extra pace on Friday after the US economy created far more jobs than initially estimated in September, dragging EUR/USD to the area of new lows near 1.0950.

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD breaches 1.3100 after encouraging US Payrolls

GBP/USD breaches 1.3100 after encouraging US Payrolls

The continuation of the uptrend in the US Dollar motivates GBP/USD to accelerates its losses and breaches 1.3100 the figure in the wake of the release of US NFP.

GBP/USD News
Gold rebounds from daily lows and flirts with $2,670

Gold rebounds from daily lows and flirts with $2,670

Following a post-NFP dip to the $2,640 region, Gold prices now embarks on an acceptable rebound and retest the area of $2,670 per ounce troy despite the marked advance in the US Dollar and rising US yields across the board.

Gold News
US Payrolls surge in September, as 50bp rate cut ruled out

US Payrolls surge in September, as 50bp rate cut ruled out

US payrolls data surprised on the upside in September, rising by 254k, smashing expectations of a 150k rise. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2%, average hourly earnings increased to a 4% YoY rate and there was a 72k upwards revision to the previous two months’ payrolls numbers.

Read more
RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures

RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures

The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to continue bucking the trend adopted by major central banks of the dovish policy pivot, opting to maintain the policy for the seventh consecutive meeting on Tuesday.

Read more
Five best Forex brokers in 2024

Five best Forex brokers in 2024

VERIFIED Choosing the best Forex broker in 2024 requires careful consideration of certain essential factors. With the wide array of options available, it is crucial to find a broker that aligns with your trading style, experience level, and financial goals. 

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures