GBP/USD correcting as Brexit choices become clear

• GBP/USD is sliding after the recent gains amid incessant Brexit headlines.
• While hard-Brexiteers are warming to a deal, the DUP is still not onboard.
• The technical picture is bullish for the pair.

GBP/USD  is trading in the mid-1.3200s, down from the highs around 1.3300.  Brexit  is left, right, and center. In the big picture, Brexit will most probably be delayed beyond March 29th. Parliament called for asking the EU for an extension of Article 50 late on Thursday. Earlier, MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit after having rejected May’s Brexit deal for the second time.

Two Brexit scenarios

1) May’s deal

One option is a third Meaningful Vote, dubbed MV3. It may occur on Tuesday or Wednesday.  It depends on a show of support from those that brought the accord down. Esther McVey, a former minister that opposed the deal, now supports it, as the other option would be a long extension and a chance of losing Brexit. The leader of the eurosceptic  European Research Group (ERG) Jabos Rees-Mogg, also seems to be warming up to supporting the deal.

A lot depends on the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The Conservative-led  government depends on the Northern Irish Party for its survival. The DUP has been opposed to the accord so far but may change its mind.

They have reportedly been offered cash for the region, and they may want a seat at the table at the next stage of the talks. Talks between the government and the DUP have not yet made progress, and leader Arlene Foster is currently in Belfast and not scheduled to travel to London.

If the deal finally passes, the EU Council Summit on Thursday is set to approve a technical extension of Brexit until May or June, allowing Parliament to pass related laws. In this scenario, the UK will not participate in the European Parliament elections. On the one hand, this scenario provides certainty after a long period of uncertainty. On the other hand, it secures a smooth, yet not-so-soft Brexit.

2) Long extension and uncertainty

In case the deal fails MV3 or if a vote is not held, the EU may approve a long extension. Leaders are reluctant to have British MEPs such as Nigel Farage bash the institution in Brussels, but markets may like Brexit to be pushed back.

In this scenario, the government may fall, a second referendum may be held, or perhaps the country could go to new elections. All in all, high uncertainty but Brexit is delayed.

Apart from Brexit, the inflation, jobs, and retail sales reports will be of interest this week, as well as the Bank of England’s decision. Yet as we have seen in recent weeks, Brexit is the name of the game.

GBP/USD Technical Analysis

The bulls are in control. While some of the Momentum has disappeared after the fall, the four-hour chart still shows Pound bulls are in control. The Relative Strength Index is above 50 and the pair trades above both the 50 and 200 Simple Moving Averages.

1.3270 provided some support when the pair traded at higher ground. 1.3300 is a round number and also capped cable at the wake of the new week. 1.3350 was a high point in late February and 1.3388 was the fresh peak.

Looking down, 1.3200 was the low point on Friday. 1.3110 separated ranges early int he month. .1.3070 is approximately where the 200 SMA meets the chart. 1.3010 wa a swing low last week.