GBP Price, Volatility, Brexit and UK Inflation Data
- With less than two weeks left before the UK leaves the EU, nothing is ruled in or out.
- UK inflation data in line with market predictions.
Q1 2019 GBP Forecast and USD Top Trading Opportunities
Brexit Delay Confusion as PM May Prevaricates
UK PM May Theresa May continues to add uncertainty to the Brexit negotiations with reports that she is seeking a three-month extension, a two-year extension or a combination of the two. As yet nothing official has been announced, leaving the EU waiting and Sterling on edge. Market commentators are increasingly voicing concerns that PM May is trying to force a ‘my deal or no deal’ endgame, with the markets currently giving a little more weight to the PM ‘s deal been eventually passed. If no extension is confirmed, and it is likely that if needed it will be, and PM May’s bill has not been voted through, the UK will leave the EU by default on March 29.
The latest UK inflation data confirmed market expectations in general although the February year-on-year figure ticked up to 1.9% against expectations and a prior reading of 1.8%. Core inflation nudged lower to 1.8% from 1.9%. In conjunction with yesterday’s strong labor figures and robust wages data, the Bank of England may need to look at interest rate hikes sooner rather than later, once the Brexit process has been finally resolved.
While Sterling is still at risk of a No Deal Brexit sell-off, the charts continue to paint a positive picture albeit with bullish bias eroding. Against the US dollar the recent set of higher lows and higher highs remain in place with initial support provided by 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at 1.3177 before the one-month low further back at 1.2960 and the 200-day moving average at 1.2940.
Care needs to be taken on GBPUSD with the latest FOMC policy meeting set for later today. No interest rate hikes are expected but traders should listen to Fed Chair Powell’s thoughts on the future rate path and his latest thoughts on the winding down the balance sheet contraction program.
DailyFX Chief Strategist John Kicklighter will be covering the FOMC Meeting Live from 17:45 GMT today.
Sterling Weekly Technical Outlook: Charts Highlight Bullish GBP Bias.
GBPUSD Daily Price Chart (June 2018 – March 20, 2019)
Retail traders are 47.5% net-long GBPUSD according to the latest IG Client Sentiment Data, a bullish contrarian indicator. Recent changes in daily and weekly sentiment however currently suggest a stronger bullish GBPUSD bias.
Traders may be interested in two of our trading guides – Traits of Successful Traders and Top Trading Lessons – while technical analysts are likely to be interested in our latest Elliott Wave Guide.
What is your view on Sterling – bullish or bearish?? You can let us know via the form at the end of this piece or you can contact the author at nicholas.cawley@ig.com or via Twitter @nickcawley1.
