- 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
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 treads water just above 1.0400 post-US data
Another sign of the good health of the US economy came in response to firm flash US Manufacturing and Services PMIs, which in turn reinforced further the already strong performance of the US Dollar, relegating EUR/USD to the 1.0400 neighbourhood on Friday.
GBP/USD remains depressed near 1.2520 on stronger Dollar
Poor results from the UK docket kept the British pound on the back foot on Thursday, hovering around the low-1.2500s in a context of generalized weakness in the risk-linked galaxy vs. another outstanding day in the Greenback.
Gold keeps the bid bias unchanged near $2,700
Persistent safe haven demand continues to prop up the march north in Gold prices so far on Friday, hitting new two-week tops past the key $2,700 mark per troy ounce despite extra strength in the Greenback and mixed US yields.
Geopolitics back on the radar
Rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine caused renewed unease in the markets this week. Putin signed an amendment to Russian nuclear doctrine, which allows Russia to use nuclear weapons for retaliating against strikes carried out with conventional weapons.
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.