UPDATE: Close GBPUSD Short and Book Profits

2018-08-03 08:15:00

UPDATE

Last week, I recommended to short GBPUSD (See below) on rallies towards 1.32. Since then, the pair has continued to trend lower and has now broken the short-term base and target at 1.30 with the price now at 1.2980. As such, now would be a good time to book profits as we await a signal.

GBPUSD Trading Strategy: Short on rallies to 1.32, target 1.30, stop loss 1.3280

Trade Risk: Hawkish BoE and Long USD Liquidation

See our Q3 FX forecast to learn what will drive major currencies throughout the quarter.

GBPUSD Fundamental Overview

GBP

The Pound continues to remain a fundamentally weak as Brexit and political noise continues to detract flow into the currency. GBPUSD has seen a mild reprieve this week with newsflow regarding Brexit somewhat quieter as parliament go on recess. Subsequently, this has presented an opportunity to reload short positions in the pair with the outlook still negative below 1.32.

Elsewhere, the major focus for the Pound in the upcoming week is the BoE rate decision. As it stands, market pricing sits at 80% for a 25bps hike to 0.75%. Given that a hike is near enough fully priced in, the focus will be on the accompanying statement and the vote split. As a reminder, at the last meeting the vote split was a 6-3 hold with Chief Economist Haldane joining Saunders and McCafferty. Consequently, a 9-0 vote in favour of hiking rates could be somewhat of a bullish signal for the Pound, while the BoE signalling that another hike could happen in Q4 18/Q1 19, may also provide a lift as markets reprice for a rate hike.

However, with the BoE likely to reemphasise that hikes will be gradual and limited and with data suggesting that the underlying economy remains soft, the central bank could signal a one and done rate hike, which would likely push the Pound lower. Concerns over greater downside has also been reflected in the options market with GBP puts continuing to trade at a premium to calls. Risk premium has also elevated with break-evens at 120 pips.

USD

US GDP for Q2 is expected to rise at a rather strong 4.2%, which would be the first time that GDP has surpassed 4% since Q3 2014. Risks are skewed to the upside with analysts suggesting the figure could reach as high as 5%, while FOX press reports earlier this week noted that Trump is said to see GDP at 4.8%. As such, this is likely to keep the US Dollar buoyed. Alongside this, the US-China trade spat has shown no signs from easing and a reaction to this has been further upside in the USD. This is despite the crowded USD long position suggesting that gains will likely be modest in the near term.

Another influence for the USD in the near term will be the Federal Reserve rate decision next week. Although, given that Powell’s testimony was just last week, it is unlikely that the Fed will deviate from the current script that rate hikes remain appropiate, which in turn suggests the influence will be small.

GBPUSD Technical Overview

Resistance 1: 1.3208 (61.8% Fib retracement)

Resistance 2: 1.3250

Resistance 3: 1.3270 (76.4% Fib retracement)

Support 1: 1.3110 (38.2% Fib retracement)

Support 2: 1.3070 (Rising Trendline Support)

Support 3: 1.3000 Psychological level

GBPUSD PRICE CHART: 4-Hour Time Frame (July 4th-28th)