Better UK Data… Again

The British Pound continues to storm higher against the Dollar this week. Against a backdrop of elevated Fed easing expectations, further positive UK data is casting uncertainty over how the BOE is likely to proceed near term following its recent rate cut.  The latest UK PMIs released today both came in above forecasts. Manufacturing came in at 52.5, up from 52.1 prior and above the 51.7 the market was looking for. Similarly, services was seen at 53.3, up from 52.5 prior and well above the 52.8 the market was looking for, marking a tenth consecutive month of expansion for the sector. GBPUSD reached a 13-month high on the back of the data,

BOE’s Bailey Up Next

Focus now turns to BOE governor Bailey who speaks at the Fed’s Jackson Hole Symposium tomorrow. With UK data strengthening recently, traders are struggling to get a read on whether the BOE will push ahead with further easing. Currently, market pricing is in favour of the bank holding in September and easing further in November. However, traders will be very sensitive to any signs tomorrow that the bank might look to hold rates through November while it monitors incoming data, particularly given the recent uptick in CPI (2.2% from 2% prior).  In this scenario, GBPUSD could trade much higher near-term, especially if we get a firmly dovish view from Fed’s Powell tomorrow.

Technical Views

GBPUSD

The rally in GBPUSD has seen the market breaking above several resistance levels. Price is now testing the 1.3002 level and with momentum studies bullish, focus is on a fresh push higher. Above current resistance, 1.3297 and the channel highs will be the next objective for bulls. 1.3002 remains key support to note. In the Signal Centre today we have a buy limit at 1.3010, suggesting a preference to buy any pullbacks and stay long for fresh highs.