Home GBP/USD Forecast Sep. 8-12

The British pound  had one of its worst weeks in recent memory, shedding  almost 300  points against the surging  US dollar. Can the pound turn things around? This week’s highlights are Manufacturing Production and the Inflation Report Hearings.  Here is an outlook for the main events moving the pound, and an updated technical analysis for GBP/USD.

The markets were not impressed with mixed British PMIs, which are pointing to unbalanced growth in the UK. The BoE kept a steady course with interest rate and QE levels. In the US, Nonfarm Payrolls slumped to a 7-month low,  while services and manufacturing PMIs  were solid and  beat the estimates.

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GBP/USD graph with support and resistance lines on it. Click to enlarge:

 

GBPUSD Forecast Sep8-12

  1. Halifax HPI: Monday, 8th-9th. This housing price index provides a gauge of activity in the housing markets. The index rebounded strongly last month, posting a strong gain of 1.4%. This easily beat the estimate of 0.5%. The markets are bracing for a weak gain of just 0.2% in the upcoming release.
  2. BRC Retail Sales Monitor: Monday, 23:01. This minor event looks at retail sales in BRC shops. The indicator has posted back-to-back declines, pointing to weaker consumer spending.
  3. BOE Governor Mark Carney Speaks:  Tuesday, 8:30. Carney will address an event in Liverpool. The markets will be all ears, looking for any clues as to the timing of a rate hike by the BoE.
  4. Manufacturing Production:  Tuesday, 8:30. This indicator is a key event and can have a major impact on the movement of GBP/USD. The indicator posted rebounded last month, posting a slight gain of 0.3%. This was well below the estimate of 0.7%. The forecast for the upcoming release is 0.3%.
  5. Trade Balance: Tuesday, 8:30. Trade Balance is directly linked to currency demand, as foreigners must purchase pounds in order to buy British goods. The trade deficit  continues to widen, and hit GBP 9.4  billion in July, above the estimate of  8.9 billion. The markets are expecting a better result in  the  August reading, with an estimate of -9.1 billion.
  6. NIESR GDP Estimate: Tuesday, 14:00. This monthly indicator helps analysts track GDP, which is released each quarter. The indicator slipped to 0.6 % in July, its weakest reading in over a year. Does this point to a slowing down of the UK economy? The markets will be hoping that the upcoming release beats the estimate.
  7. Inflation Report Hearings: Wednesday, 13:45. This event should be treated by traders as a market-mover. BOE Governor Mark Carney and several MPC members will testify on the country’s inflation and  economic  outlook  before Parliament’s Treasury Committee.
  8. RICS House Price Balance: Thursday, 11:00. This indicator is a gauge of activity in the housing sector. The index has been losing ground, slipping to 47% last month, marking a 6-month low.
  9. 30-year Bond Auction:    Thursday, Tentative. The yield on 30-year bonds has dropped slightly in recent releases and came in at 3.53% at the last auction. No significant change is expected in this week’s release.
  10. Construction Output: Friday, 8:30. The indicator has struggled, but posted a strong gain of 1.2% in July, beating the estimate of 1.1%. The forecast for the upcoming release is 0.7%.
  11. CB Leading Index: Friday, 8:30. This index is based on 7 economic indicators.  It is considered a minor event since most of the data has already been released. In July, the index posted a gain of 0.6%.

* All times are GMT

 

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

GBP/USD started the week at 1.6591, and managed to hit a high of 1.6644. It was all downhill after that, as the pair tumbled as low as 1.6281. GBP/USD closed at 1.6315, as support remained firm at 1.6310 (discussed last week).

Live chart of GBP/USD:

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Technical  lines from top to bottom

1.6740 capped the pair on a recovery attempt in August and is high resistance now. 1.6660 was a swing low in April and also in August.

1.6615 is the top of the current range after capping it in August. The bottom of the range is at 1.6535, which has reverted to a resistance role.

Below, we have 1.6465, which was the bottom in March. Further below, the round number of 1.64 is providing resistance.

1.6310 was a cushion during  January and is  an immediate support line.  This is followed by 1.6250, the low seen in February.

1.6131 has remained intact since August 2011. At that time, the dollar posted an impressive rally which as GDP/USD dropped close to the 1.53 line.

1.6006  has held firm since October, and stands just above the psychologically important 1.60 level.

1.5909 is the final support line for now. It was last tested in  late October.

 

I am bearish  on GBP/USD.

After around two months of falls, the pound shows no sign of changing course. With the UK economy hitting some bumps, an interest rate hike by Mark Carney seems less imminent. Meanwhile, the dollar continues to enjoy gains against its major rivals, and shrugged off a dismal NFP late last week.

Listen to a preview of September’s big events in the latest episode of Market Movers:

Download it directly here.

Further reading:

Kenny Fisher

Kenny Fisher

Kenny Fisher - Senior Writer A native of Toronto, Canada, Kenneth worked for seven years in the marketing and trading departments at Bendix, a foreign exchange company in Toronto. Kenneth is also a lawyer, and has extensive experience as an editor and writer.