The Pound Sterling (GBP) edges down from a two-week high of 1.2570 but holds above the psychological support of 1.2500 against the US Dollar (USD) in Tuesday’s early American session. The GBP/USD pair comes under pressure as investors await the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy announcement on Wednesday for fresh guidance.
A data-packed week in the United States will keep the US Dollar on tenterhooks. On the other side of the Atlantic, the United Kingdom's economic calendar is light. Therefore, market speculation for the Bank of England’s (BoE) interest rate policy on May 9 will guide the Pound Sterling. The BoE is expected to maintain the status quo, but guidance on interest rates is expected to be slightly on the dovish side.
BoE Governor Andrew Bailey is confident about a sharp decline in the headline inflation of April and sees market expectations for two or three rate cuts this year as reasonable. Also, BoE Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden has predicted that risks of inflation remaining persistent have receded. The BoE could shed more light on the time frame from when it could start reducing interest rates. Market participants remain divided between June or August meetings from when the BoE could pivot to interest rate cuts.
The Pound Sterling falls from a two-week high of 1.2570 against the Greenback. The GBP/USD pair struggled to extend its upside reaching the breakdown region of the Head and Shoulder chart pattern formed on a daily timeframe. The Cable witnessed a sharp fall after breaking below the crucial support of 1.2535 on April 12, but it has recovered recent losses since then.
Cable's near-term outlook has improved as it trades comfortably above the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is around 1.2516.
The 14-period Relative Strength Index (RSI) shifts into the 40.00-60.00 range, suggesting a consolidation ahead.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, aka ‘Cable’, which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the ‘Dragon’ as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).
The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of “price stability” – a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.
Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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