GBP/USD Price Analysis: Pound extends gains as traders eye Fed-BoE decisions

Source Fxstreet
  • GBP/USD is trading near 1.3350, up for a second consecutive day, as traders eye central bank decisions from both sides of the Atlantic.
  • The Fed will announce its monetary policy decision on Wednesday, and is expected to keep interest rates steady.
  • The BoE will release its interest rate decision on Thursday, after a fresh batch of UK Employment data.

The GBP/USD pair is trading near the 1.3350 price region on Tuesday, striking a bullish tone as investors continue to move away from the US Dollar (USD) ahead of the Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy decision on Wednesday.

The Fed’s policy dilemma is being tested by rising energy prices tied to the Middle East war. Higher Oil prices are potentially delaying rate cuts, as officials balance persistent inflation risks against slowing growth. The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index accelerated to 3.1% YoY in January from 3% in December, signalling stalled progress toward the 2% goal, putting interest-rate cuts in jeopardy.

The Middle East war keeps markets under tension as the Strait of Hormuz is still partially seized by Iran. The United States (US) President Donald Trump is trying to gather allies to rally against the blockade, but has not yet been successful.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the Bank of England (BoE) will also reveal its interest rate decision on Thursday, with market players expecting a hawkish hold. Earlier in the day, UK Employment data is set to be released hours before the BoE interest rate decision. The data, however, isn't likely to significantly impact the pair, as the interest rate decision will already be set.

Chart Analysis GBP/USD


GBP/USD short-term technical analysis:

In the 4-hour chart, GBP/USD trades at 1.3340. The near-term bias is mildly bullish as the pair stabilizes above a cluster of supports. Price holds above the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) near 1.3300 but remains below the 100-period SMA around 1.3400, framing a corrective rebound within a broader softening backdrop. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator has rebounded toward 54 after dipping below 50 in the European session, signaling improving upside pressure after a prior downside stretch.

Immediate support is seen at 1.3299, with a break lower exposing the next floor at 1.3273. Holding above these levels would keep buyers positioned to challenge initial resistance at 1.3360, which guards the descending 100-period SMA near 1.3400. A clear move above 1.3360 would open the way toward the 1.3400 region, while failure to defend 1.3299 would weaken the current recovery bias and refocus attention on 1.3273.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Surging Over 20%. Ethereum Crushing Bitcoin, What Does This Really Mean?Ethereum has surged over 20% in the past eight days, far outpacing Bitcoin's gains, suggesting that capital is favoring more volatile altcoins.On March 17 (GMT+8), the crypto market ralli
Author  TradingKey
6 hours ago
Ethereum has surged over 20% in the past eight days, far outpacing Bitcoin's gains, suggesting that capital is favoring more volatile altcoins.On March 17 (GMT+8), the crypto market ralli
placeholder
Gold rises on Middle East tensions; inflation fears temper rate cut bets and cap gainsGold (XAU/USD) edges higher during the Asian session on Tuesday, though it lacks follow-through and remains close to an over three-week low, touched the previous day.
Author  FXStreet
10 hours ago
Gold (XAU/USD) edges higher during the Asian session on Tuesday, though it lacks follow-through and remains close to an over three-week low, touched the previous day.
placeholder
AUD/USD rebounds ahead of RBA rate decisionAUD/USD gained around 1.25% on Monday, bouncing from last week's lows to settle around 0.7070. The pair has been in a choppy range since peaking near 0.7190 in early February, with price pulling back repeatedly toward the 0.7000 area before recovering.
Author  FXStreet
14 hours ago
AUD/USD gained around 1.25% on Monday, bouncing from last week's lows to settle around 0.7070. The pair has been in a choppy range since peaking near 0.7190 in early February, with price pulling back repeatedly toward the 0.7000 area before recovering.
placeholder
Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC extends gains after third consecutive week of ETF inflowsBitcoin (BTC) extends gains, trading above $73,000 at the time of writing on Monday, following a bullish breakout from the consolidation pattern it had been trading since roughly the past six weeks.
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 10: 38
Bitcoin (BTC) extends gains, trading above $73,000 at the time of writing on Monday, following a bullish breakout from the consolidation pattern it had been trading since roughly the past six weeks.
placeholder
Breaking: Gold falls below $5,000 as oil-driven inflation fears weighGold price (XAU/USD) tumbles to around $4,980 during the early Asian session on Monday. The precious metal faces some selling pressure despite intense geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding the United States (US)-Israel war with Iran. 
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 17
Gold price (XAU/USD) tumbles to around $4,980 during the early Asian session on Monday. The precious metal faces some selling pressure despite intense geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding the United States (US)-Israel war with Iran. 
Related Instrument
goTop
quote