British Pound loses ground below 1.3600 on US-Iran tensions, UK political pressure
The GBP/USD pair loses momentum to near 1.3590 during the early Asian session on Tuesday. The British Pound (GBP) weakens against the US Dollar (USD) as traders focus on key US economic data and Middle East geopolitical tensions.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report for April will be published later in the day. Markets expect the headline CPI to show a rise of 3.7% YoY in April, compared to 3.3% in March, while the core CPI is projected to show an increase of 2.7% YoY in April, versus 2.6% prior. A hotter-than-expected reading could bolster the Greenback as it would support the narrative of the Federal Reserve (Fed) keeping rates higher for longer. Read more…
Pound Sterling slips from peak as US CPI and UK GDP loom
Sterling pulled back from a fresh peak near 1.3650 on Monday, easing close to 1.3610 through European trade after the Asian session squeezed the Pound to a new local high. The rejection from the 1.3650 area produced a sharp intraday reversal, with a string of red candles unwinding most of the overnight push and pointing to fading upside momentum ahead of a heavy data week.
The week ahead is a US-heavy affair: Tuesday’s April Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the centerpiece, with consensus penciling in 0.6% MoM and 3.7% YoY headline alongside a 0.4% MoM, 2.7% YoY core read, in part reflecting the first full month of Iran-conflict energy pass-through. Wednesday’s Producer Price Index (PPI) print is forecast hotter again at 0.5% MoM and 4.9% YoY, with Thursday’s Retail Sales penciled at 0.5% MoM. A heavier Federal Reserve speaking calendar bookends each release, with Williams, Goolsbee, Kashkari, Schmid, Hammack, and Barr all scheduled, leaving the US Dollar exposed to two-way risk on every print and every headline. A hotter-than-expected CPI in particular would underline how Strait of Hormuz disruption is feeding through to US prices and tend to weigh on Sterling. Read more…
British Pound steadies as Starmer ouster fears rock UK Gilts
The Pound Sterling (GBP) holds modestly firm against the US Dollar (USD) during the North American session on Monday, down a minimal 0.06% as pressure mounts on the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer as his party sustained losses in local elections. The GBP/USD pair trades at 1.3625 after hitting a daily high of 1.3630.
The UK PM Starmer said, “I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain. Frustrated by politics, and some people frustrated with me.” Regarding Starmer’s speech, Catherine West, a Labour MP who is threatening to launch a leadership campaign, commented that Starmer’s relaunch speech was “too little too late”. Read more…
