GBP/USD Forecast and News
GBP/USD rises above 1.2500 on weaker Dollar
The resumption of the upward pressure sends GBP/USD back above 1.2500 the figure in response to increasing selling pressure hurting the Greenback.
Latest Pound Sterling News
GBP/USD Technical Overview
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the 4-hour chart stays slightly below 50, while GBP/USD trades near the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA), currently located at around 1.2490.
In case GBP/USD stays below 1.2490-1.2500 resistance area, sellers could remain interested. In this scenario, 1.2450 (Fibonacci 23.6% retracement of the latest downtrend) and 1.2400 (static level, psychological level) could be set as next bearish targets.
On the upside, 1.2530 (Fibonacci 38.2% retracement) aligns as interim resistance ahead of 1.2560 (200-day SMA) and 1.2600 (Fibonacci 50% retracement).
Fundamental Overview
GBP/USD declined sharply on Tuesday and erased all of Monday's gains. The pair fluctuates in a tight range below 1.2500 as trading action remains subdued, with most major European markets staying closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
The renewed US Dollar (USD) strength caused GBP/USD to turn south in the American session on Tuesday. The Employment Cost Index rose 1.2% in the first quarter. This reading followed the 0.9% increase recorded in the previous quarter and surpassed the market expectation of 1%, reviving fears over strengthening wage inflation.
Early Wednesday, US stock index futures trade deep in negative territory, supporting the USD and not allowing GBP/USD to gather recovery momentum.
The US economic docket will feature ADP Employment Change and the ISM Manufacturing PMI for April. The market reaction to these data is likely to remain short-lived, with investors refraining from taking large positions ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy announcements. Nevertheless, disappointing data could make it difficult for the USD to build on Tuesday's rally.
The Fed is expected to maintain the policy rate at 5.25%-5.5% after April 30 - May 1 policy meeting. Investors will look for changes in the statement language and scrutinize Chairman Jerome Powell's comments for fresh insights into the possible timing of the policy pivot.
Markets are currently pricing a 94% probability that the Fed will leave the policy rate unchanged again in June. The probability of a rate cut in September stays slightly below 50%, according to CME FedWatch Tool. In case Powell adopts a concerning tone regarding the inflation outlook and causes markets to lean toward a rate cut toward the end of the year, the USD could continue to outperform its rivals and weigh on GBP/USD. On the other hand, the pair could stage a decisive rebound if Powell leaves the door open to a rate reduction in September.
SPECIAL WEEKLY GBP/USD FORECAST
Interested in weekly GBP/USD forecasts? Our experts make weekly updates forecasting the next possible moves of the Pound-Dollar pair. Here you can find the most recent forecast by our market experts:
GBP/USD: Pound Sterling recovers after two straight weeks of losses Premium
Pound Sterling witnessed a negative start to the week despite the return of risk appetite on ebbing fears over a wider regional conflict in the Middle East.
GBP/USD Big Picture
GBP/USD Bullish Themes
GBP/USD BEARISH Themes
Latest GBP Analysis
Editors' picks
EUR/USD jitters post-Fed with NFP Friday over the horizon
EUR/USD cycled familiar territory on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve held rates as many investors had expected. However, market participants were hoping for further signs of impending rate cuts from the US central bank.
GBP/USD rises above 1.2500 on weaker Dollar
The resumption of the upward pressure sends GBP/USD back above 1.2500 the figure in response to increasing selling pressure hurting the Greenback.
Japanese Yen struggles to gain momentum, eyes on Fed decision
The Japanese Yen continues to be undermined by the divergent BoJ-Fed policy expectations. Bets that the Fed will keep rates higher for longer, lift the USD, and lend support to USD/JPY. The risk-off impulse underpins the safe-haven JPY and caps gains ahead of the FOMC decision.
Gold prices skyrocketed as Powell’s words boosted the yellow metal
Gold prices rallied sharply above the $2,300 milestone on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged while announcing that it would diminish the pace of the balance sheet reduction.
WTI remains under selling pressure below $81.00 amid unexpected oil stockpile build
Western Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $80.80 on Wednesday. The black gold edges lower on rising crude inventories in the United States and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
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GBP/USD YEARLY FORECAST
How could GBP/USD move this year? Our experts make a GBP/USD update forecasting the possible moves of the pound-dollar pair during the whole year. Don't miss our 2024 GBP/USD forecast!
2024 GBP/USD FORECAST
In the GBP/USD Price Forecast 2024, our analyst, Dhwani Mehta, notes there are plenty of unknowns and looming uncertainties that make it difficult to convincingly predict the course of the Pound Sterling against the US Dollar (USD) in the year ahead. On both sides of the Atlantic, increased odds of a recession, a dovish pivot in the monetary policies and general elections are foreseen as the key factors driving the GBP/USD price action next year, barring any unprecedented geopolitical risks. Read more details about the forecast.
GBP/USD witnessed a rollercoaster ride in 2023 but the Pound Sterling managed to preserve the recovery gains seen in the first half of the year to a 15-month high of 1.3142.
MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL EVENTS IN 2024 FOR GBP/USD
BoE policymakers continue to push back against expectations of rate cuts next year. However, deteriorating economic performance prompted money markets to begin pricing in four 25 bps rate cuts starting from the summer, anticipating the key rate to be slashed from 5.25% to as low as 4.25% by the end of 2024. The first cut is expected as early as June, to 5.0%.
Even though the Bank of England largely shrugged off a 0.3% contraction in GDP for October, the prospect of a recession in the run-up to a 2024 national election remains high.
A general election is expected next year in the US and the UK, which could fuel intense volatility around the GBP/USD pair. Amidst looming inflation and growth concerns, the political developments on both sides of the Atlantic are likely to be closely followed.
Influential Institutions & People for the GBP/USD
The Pound VS Dollar can be seriously affected by news or the decisions taken by two main central banks:
The Bank of England (BoE)
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom. Established in 1694 and privately owned in the beginning, the Bank was nationalised in 1946 so now is completely owned by the UK government. BOE's main reason to be is to maintain monetary and financial stability in the country. Some of its other tasks are producing secure bank notes, operating asset purchase facility and keeping the inflation low and stable. The bank is overseen by the Court, named used to reffer the board of directors, and is accountable to Parliament and the public.
BOE Official Website, on Twitter and Facebook
The Federal Reserve Bank (Fed)
On the other
FED Official Website, on Twitter and Facebook
Andrew Bailey
Andrew Bailey is Governor of the Bank of England since 16 March 2020. He was announced as the new Governor of the BoE on 20 December 2019. Bailey was born in Leicester in 1959 and graduated from Queens' College with a BA in History and a PhD from the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge in 1985. Before becoming the Governor of the BOE, Andrew worked at the Bank in a number of areas, most recently as Executive Director for Banking Services and Chief Cashier, as well as Head of the Bank's Special Resolution Unit (SRU). Previous roles include Governor's Private Secretary, and Head of the International Economic Analysis Division in Monetary Analysis.
Bailey on BOE'S Profile and Wikipedia
Jerome Powell
Jerome Powell took office as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in February 2018, for a four-year term ending in February 2022. His term as a member of the Board of Governors will expire January 31, 2028. Born in Washington D.C., he received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University in 1975 and earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1979. Powell served as an assistant secretary and as undersecretary of the Treasury under President George H.W. Bush. He also worked as a lawyer and investment banker in New York City. From 1997 through 2005, Powell was a partner at The Carlyle Group.
Jerome Powell Fed's Profile and Wikipedia
BOE NEWS & ANALYSIS
ECB NEWS & ANALYSIS
About GBP/USD
The GBP/USD (or Pound / Dollar) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. The pair is also called 'The Cable', referring to the first Transatlantic cable that was crossing the Atlantic Ocean in order to connect Great Britain with the United States of America. This term originated in the mid-19th century, which makes it one of the oldest currency pairs.
Pound Sterling - US Dollar represents two economies: British and American (from United States of America). The Cable is a closely watched and widely traded currency pair where the Pound is the base currency and the US Dollar is the counter currency. For that reason, all the macroeconomic data related to the US and the UK affects the price of this pair. One of the events which affected most the volatility of the pound vs. dollar was Brexit.
Related pairs
EUR/USD
The EUR/USD (or Euro Dollar) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. This group also includes the following currency pairs: GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD and USD/CAD. The popularity of Euro Dollar is due to the fact that it gathers two main economies: the European and American (from United States of America) ones. This is a widely traded currency pair where the Euro is the base currency and the US Dollar is the counter currency. Since the EUR/USD pair consists of more than half of all the trading volume worldwide in the Forex Market, it is almost impossible for a gap to appear, let alone a consequent breakaway gap in the opposite direction.
Normally, the EUR/USD is very quiet during the Asian session because economic data that affects the fundamentals of those currencies is released in either the European or U.S. session. Once traders in Europe get to their desks a flurry of activity hits the tape as they start filling customer orders and jockey for positions. At noon activity slows down as traders step out for lunch and then picks back up again as the U.S. comes online.
USD/JPY
The USD/JPY (or US Dollar Japanese Yen) currency pair belongs to the group of 'Majors', a way to mention the most important pairs in the world. This group also includes the following currency pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD and USD/CAD. Japanese Yen has a low interest rate and is normally used in carry trades. This is the reason why is one of the most trades currencies worldwide. In the USD/JPY the US Dollar is the base currency and the Japanese Yen is the counter currency. The pair represents American (from United States of America) and Japanese economies.
Trading the USD/JPY currency pair is also known as trading the "ninja" or the "gopher", although this last name is more frequently used when referred to the GBP/JPY currency pair. The US Dollar Japanese Yen usually has a positive correlation with the following two pairs: USD/CHF and USD/CAD. The nature of this correlation is due to the fact that both currency pairs also use the US Dollar as the base currency, such as USD/JPY. The value of the pair tends to be affected when the two main central banks of each country, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed), face serious interest rate differential.