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- Pound Sterling strengthens ahead of UK Elections outcome and US NFP
Pound Sterling strengthens ahead of UK Elections outcome and US NFP
- The Pound Sterling performs strongly against the US Dollar as the US labor market loses momentum.
- Investors expect the Fed to begin lowering interest rates in September.
- Economists expect that the Starmer-led Labor Party will gain an absolute majority.
The Pound Sterling (GBP) strengthens against the US Dollar (USD) and rises to near 1.2760 in Thursday’s European session. The GBP/USD rises amid growing speculation that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will start reducing interest rates from the September meeting.
According to the CME FedWatch tool, 30-day Federal Funds futures pricing data shows that the probability of rate cuts in September has increased to 72.6% from 66% recorded a week ago. Expectations for Fed rate cuts in September strengthened after a few United States (US) economic indicators showed that the labor market strength appears to have started fading and the economic health has become sluggish.
On Wednesday, the US ADP Employment data showed that labor demand in the private sector unexpectedly declined in June as the number of fresh payrolls came in lower at 150K. Market consensus showed slightly higher private payrolls at 160K than May’s reading of 157K, upwardly revised from 152K.
Meanwhile, the US service sector concluded the second quarter on a weak note as the US ISM Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) witnessed a contraction in June. The ISM Services PMI, the preferred gauge for the service sector activity that accounts for two-thirds of the economy, came in at 48.8. A figure below the 50.0 threshold is seen as a contraction in service activities. The figure was the lowest in four years.
Going forward, the major trigger for the US Dollar will be the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for June, which will be published on Friday. The NFP report will indicate the overall labor demand and the current status of wage growth through Average Hourly Earnings data.
Daily digest market movers: Pound Sterling gains further against US Dollar
- The Pound Sterling (GBP) exhibits a weak performance against its major peers, except the US Dollar (USD) and the Swiss Franc (CHF), in Thursday’s London session. The outlook of the British currency appears to be uncertain as market participants turn cautious, with the United Kingdom (UK) public casting votes for parliamentary elections.
- Market expectations show that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led-Conservative Party will suffer a defeat from the Keir Starmer-led-Labour Party. The latter is expected to win with an absolute majority, and its party will come into power for the first time since 2010.
- Growing speculation that the Labour Party will win at least 326 Members of Parliament (MPs) seats in the House of Commons would be favorable for the near-term outlook of the Pound Sterling. This would allow the British currency to outperform its peers where there is a high risk of political uncertainty in their respective regions.
- On the monetary policy front, investors expect that the Bank of England (BoE) will start reducing interest rates from the August meeting. The UK’s annual headline inflation has returned to the BoE’s target of 2%. Meanwhile, inflation in the service sector remains high due to steady wage growth, refraining policymakers from advocating early rate cuts.
Pound Sterling Price Today:
British Pound PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies today. British Pound was the strongest against the US Dollar.
| GBP | EUR | USD | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBP | -0.04% | 0.05% | -0.21% | -0.04% | -0.14% | -0.17% | -0.03% | |
| EUR | 0.04% | 0.09% | -0.17% | -0.02% | -0.11% | -0.14% | 0.03% | |
| USD | -0.05% | -0.09% | -0.26% | -0.10% | -0.21% | -0.19% | -0.11% | |
| JPY | 0.21% | 0.17% | 0.26% | 0.16% | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.17% | |
| CAD | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.10% | -0.16% | -0.11% | -0.10% | 0.01% | |
| AUD | 0.14% | 0.11% | 0.21% | -0.04% | 0.11% | 0.01% | 0.13% | |
| NZD | 0.17% | 0.14% | 0.19% | -0.04% | 0.10% | -0.01% | 0.12% | |
| CHF | 0.03% | -0.03% | 0.11% | -0.17% | -0.01% | -0.13% | -0.12% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).
Technical Analysis: Pound Sterling stabilizes above 1.2700
The Pound Sterling strengthens against the US Dollar after stabilizing above the round-level support of 1.2700. The GBP/USD pair moves higher to near the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at 1.2770, plotted from the March 8 high of 1.2900 to the April 22 low at 1.2300.
The Cable rises above the 20-day and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) near 1.2695 and 1.2675, respectively, suggesting that the near-term outlook is bullish.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) rises to nearly 60.00. A decisive break above it would shift momentum towards the upside.
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, aka ‘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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