GBP/USD remains above 1.3500 as US Dollar comes under pressure from "Sell America" trend
- GBP/USD maintains its position as the US Dollar struggles due to economic uncertainty in the US.
- JOLTS Job Openings posted 7.39 million new jobs in April, surprisingly higher than the expected 7.1 million.
- BoE Governor Andrew Bailey reiterated that interest rates are likely to head lower.
GBP/USD edges higher after registering losses in the previous session, trading around 1.3520 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair may appreciate as the US Dollar (USD) attracts sellers under the “Sell America” trend amid rising tariff uncertainty, which could hurt growth in the US economy.
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) Job Openings posted 7.39 million new positions in April, higher than March’s 7.2 million openings. This figure surprisingly came in above the market expectation of 7.1 million. Traders await the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report for May, which is expected to show 130K job additions.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were expected to meet soon to resolve trade disputes following China’s Ministry of Commerce rejecting the US accusation that Beijing is breaching the tariff truce reached earlier this month.
The Bank of England (BoE) officials appeared before Parliament to share details of the central bank’s policy outlook during the Monetary Policy Report Hearings. BoE Governor Andrew Bailey expressed his belief again that interest rates are likely to reduce; however, he highlighted that the path ahead is increasingly uncertain. Bailey also noted that growing global trade tensions could potentially dampen investment and economic growth.
The BoE hearings also indicated that there is no clear consensus on how quickly the interest rates will go lower. Some members are concerned that inflation may persist, while others believe that keeping rates too high for too long could harm the economy. With opinions split, the central bank is likely to make the final decision on a data-driven approach in the upcoming months.
Pound Sterling FAQs
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, also known as ‘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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