GBP/USD – Pound Hovers at 1.40, British Job Reports Next

The British pound is trading quietly for a second straight day. In Tuesday’s North American trade, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3990, down 0.07% on the day. On the release front, there are no US events on the schedule. In the UK, CBI Industrial Order Expectations continues to lose ground, and slowed to 10 points in February. This was shy of the estimate of 12 points and marked a 4-month low. Wednesday has a host of market-movers, so traders should be prepared for some movement from the pair. The UK releases wage growth and unemployment rolls, and the Federal Reserve will publish the minutes of its January meeting. As well, the US will release Existing Home Sales.

The focus will be on UK employment numbers on Wednesday. Wage growth is expected to remain at 2.5% for a third straight month. Claimant Count Change is expected to slow to 2.3 thousand, and the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.3%, where it has been pegged since July. The markets will also be keeping  a close eye on BoE Governor Mark Carney, who will testify on inflation before a parliamentary committee. Consumer inflation continues to run at a brisk pace of 3%, well above the BoE target of 2%. This has eroded the purchasing power of the British consumer and also dampened consumer confidence.

It’s been a busy start for Jerome Powell, who has just commenced his stint as chair of the Federal Reserve. Strong US data in recent weeks has raised speculation that the Fed may need to accelerate the pace of interest rate hikes in 2018. The Fed is currently projecting three rate hikes this year, but if inflation continues to move upwards, many analysts are expecting that the Fed could press the rate trigger four, or even five times in 2018. Meanwhile, concern over higher inflation and more rate hikes sent the stock markets into a frenzy earlier in February. Powell sought to reassure the markets that the Fed was monitoring the situation, but it’s doubtful that the Fed can do much to prevent volatility in the markets.

GBP/USD Fundamentals

Tuesday (February 20)

• 6:00 British CBI Industrial Order Expectations. Estimate 12. Actual 10

Wednesday (February 21)

• 4:30 British Average Earnings Index. Estimate 2.5%
• 4:30 British Claimant Count Change. Estimate 2.3K
• 4:30 British Public Sector Net Borrowing. Estimate -11.5B
• 4:30 British Unemployment Rate. Estimate 4.3%
• 9:15 British Inflation Report Hearings 
• 9:45 US Flash Manufacturing PMI. Estimate 55.4
• 9:45 US Flash Services PMI. Estimate 53.8

*All release times are GMT

*Key events are in bold

GBP/USD for Tuesday, February 20, 2018

GBP/USD February 20 at 11:50 EDT

Open: 1.4000 High: 1.4016 Low: 1.3931 Close: 1.4007

GBP/USD Technical

GBP/USD posted small losses in Asian trade. In the European session, the pair moved lower but reversed directions and moved higher. GBP/USD has posted small gains in North American trade

• 1.3901 is providing support
• 1.4010 was tested earlier in resistance and remains under pressure

Current range: 1.3901 to 1.4010

Further levels in both directions:

• Below: 1.3901, 1.3809 and 1.3744
• Above: 1.4010, 1.4128, 1.4271 and 1.4345

OANDA’s Open Positions Ratio

GBP/USD ratio is showing slight movement towards short positions (57%). This is indicative of trader bias towards GBP/USD breaking out and moving lower.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.