GBP/USD Price Forecast: The bearish outlook remains in play below 1.2700
- GBP/USD remains on the defensive around 1.2675 in Friday’s Asian session.
- The negative outlook of the pair prevails below the 100-period EMA, with the bearish RSI.
- The first upside barrier is seen at 1.2720; the first downside target is located at 1.2618.
The GBP/USD pair edges lower to near 1.2675, the lowest level since August during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The cautious remarks from the Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday and stronger US economic data boost the US Dollar (USD) broadly and weigh on the major pair. Traders brace for the preliminary UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the third quarter (Q3), which is due later in the day.
Technically, GBP/USD maintains a bearish outlook on the daily chart, with the major pair holding below the key 100-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The path of least resistance is to the downside as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is located below the midline around 33.50.
Sustained bearish momentum could drag the major pair to the lower limit of the Bollinger Band at 1.2618. A break below this level could push prices lower toward the 1.2500 psychological level, followed by 1.2467, the low of May 8.
On the bright side, the first key resistance level to watch if buyers step in here would be 1.2720, the high of November 14. A break above these barriers could pave the way for a test of 1.2873, the high of November 12. Any follow-through buying above the mentioned level potentially opens the door to 1.2955, the 100-period EMA.
GBP/USD 4-hour chart
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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