GBP/USD remains on the defensive above 1.2420, eyes on UK CPI data
Source Fxstreet
- GBP/USD attracts some sellers to 1.2430 on the stronger USD.
- Fed’s Powell said the US monetary policy needs to be restrictive for longer.
- BoE’s Bailey saw strong evidence that UK inflation was falling.
The GBP/USD pair remains on the defensive around 1.2430 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. The further upside in the US Dollar (USD) from a hawkish tilt by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell and upbeat US Retail Sales data weighs on the GBP/USD pair. Investors will take more cues from the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday.
The Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday that monetary policy needs to be restrictive for longer and further dampen investors' hopes for meaningful rate cuts this year. Powell added that the recent economic data have clearly not given the Fed greater confidence and it's likely to take longer than expected to achieve that confidence. The US central bank has kept its benchmark interest rate in a target range between 5.25% and 5.5% since July 2023. Financial markets have had to reset their expectations for rate cuts this year, with the anticipation of one or two reductions that will not start until September.
On the other hand, investors price in two rate cuts by the Bank of England (BoE) this year, with the first move in August or September and earlier rate cuts than the Fed. This, in turn, has exerted some selling pressure on the Pound Sterling (GBP) and created a headwind for the GBP/USD pair.
The BoE Governor Andrew Bailey said on Tuesday there was strong evidence that UK inflation was falling and that the question for BoE policymakers remained how much more evidence was necessary before starting to cut interest rates. Bailey further stated that different inflation paths for the US and Europe this year could lead to somewhat different paths for interest rates.
Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Recommended Articles
Bitwise's Matt Hougan Predicts a Crypto Boom in 2026 Amid Current Market Struggles
Ethereum slides 5% as bears lean on $3,500 cap and put $3,150 support in focusEthereum (ETH) drops more than 5% after a failed push above $3,550, with price sliding to $3,153 and now holding below $3,350, the 100-hour SMA and a bearish trend line at $3,500; unless bulls reclaim the $3,350–$3,500 zone, the short-term bias stays bearish and a clean break under $3,150 could expose $3,050, $3,000 and even the $2,880–$2,850 support area.
Ethereum (ETH) drops more than 5% after a failed push above $3,550, with price sliding to $3,153 and now holding below $3,350, the 100-hour SMA and a bearish trend line at $3,500; unless bulls reclaim the $3,350–$3,500 zone, the short-term bias stays bearish and a clean break under $3,150 could expose $3,050, $3,000 and even the $2,880–$2,850 support area.
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) trade in red on Friday after correcting more than 5%, 10% and 2%, respectively, so far this week.
Bitcoin slides deeper into red as bears lean on $96,600 wall and eye $90,000Bitcoin extends its decline after failing to reclaim $96,500, trading below $95,000, the 100-hour SMA and a bearish trend line near $96,600; unless bulls can force a decisive close back above $96,600–$97,200, the short-term path of least resistance stays lower, with $92,500, $90,000 and the main $88,500 support zone in focus.
Bitcoin extends its decline after failing to reclaim $96,500, trading below $95,000, the 100-hour SMA and a bearish trend line near $96,600; unless bulls can force a decisive close back above $96,600–$97,200, the short-term path of least resistance stays lower, with $92,500, $90,000 and the main $88,500 support zone in focus.
Bitcoin briefly loses 2025 gains as crypto plunges over the weekend.Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline this weekend, briefly erasing its 2025 gains and dipping below its year-opening value of $93,507. The cryptocurrency fell to a low of $93,029 on Sunday, representing a 25% drop from its all-time high in October. Although it has rebounded slightly to around $94,209, the pressures on the market remain significant.
The downturn occurred despite the reopening of the U.S. government on Thursday, which many had hoped would provide essential support for crypto markets. This year initially appeared promising for cryptocurrencies, particularly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has established the most pro-crypto administration thus far. However, ongoing political tensions—including Trump's tariff strategies and the recent government shutdown, lasting a historic 43 days—have contributed to several rapid price pullbacks for Bitcoin throughout the year.
Market dynamics are also being influenced by Bitcoin whales—investors holding large amounts of Bitcoin—who have been offloading portions of their assets, consequently stalling price rallies even as positive regulatory developments emerge. Despite these sell-offs, analysts from Glassnode argue that this behavior aligns with typical patterns seen among long-term investors during the concluding stages of bull markets, suggesting it is not indicative of a mass exodus.
Notably, Bitcoin is not alone in its struggles, as Ethereum and Solana have also recorded declines of 7.95% and 28.3%, respectively, since the start of the year, while numerous altcoins have faced even steeper losses.
Looking ahead, questions linger regarding the viability of the four-year cycle thesis, particularly given the increasing institutional support and regulatory frameworks now in place in the crypto landscape. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, remains optimistic, suggesting a potential Bitcoin resurgence in 2026 driven by the “debasement trade” thesis and a broader trend toward increased adoption of stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance. Hougan emphasized the soundness of the underlying fundamentals, pointing to a positive outlook for the sector in the longer term.
Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline this weekend, briefly erasing its 2025 gains and dipping below its year-opening value of $93,507. The cryptocurrency fell to a low of $93,029 on Sunday, representing a 25% drop from its all-time high in October. Although it has rebounded slightly to around $94,209, the pressures on the market remain significant.
The downturn occurred despite the reopening of the U.S. government on Thursday, which many had hoped would provide essential support for crypto markets. This year initially appeared promising for cryptocurrencies, particularly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has established the most pro-crypto administration thus far. However, ongoing political tensions—including Trump's tariff strategies and the recent government shutdown, lasting a historic 43 days—have contributed to several rapid price pullbacks for Bitcoin throughout the year.
Market dynamics are also being influenced by Bitcoin whales—investors holding large amounts of Bitcoin—who have been offloading portions of their assets, consequently stalling price rallies even as positive regulatory developments emerge. Despite these sell-offs, analysts from Glassnode argue that this behavior aligns with typical patterns seen among long-term investors during the concluding stages of bull markets, suggesting it is not indicative of a mass exodus.
Notably, Bitcoin is not alone in its struggles, as Ethereum and Solana have also recorded declines of 7.95% and 28.3%, respectively, since the start of the year, while numerous altcoins have faced even steeper losses.
Looking ahead, questions linger regarding the viability of the four-year cycle thesis, particularly given the increasing institutional support and regulatory frameworks now in place in the crypto landscape. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, remains optimistic, suggesting a potential Bitcoin resurgence in 2026 driven by the “debasement trade” thesis and a broader trend toward increased adoption of stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance. Hougan emphasized the soundness of the underlying fundamentals, pointing to a positive outlook for the sector in the longer term.
Related Instrument
