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GBP/USD Daily Forecast – Sterling on Pace to Post a Fifth Consecutive Day of Gains

GBP/USD Breaks to Fresh Seven-Month High

GBP/USD made a technical break on Tuesday and has been rallying with momentum since. The pair is benefiting from a weaker dollar, but more importantly, investors appear to be pricing in a Tories victory.

Sterling is the second strongest currency among the majors, falling behind only the New Zealand dollar. The pound to dollar exchange rate is up 1.85% for the week thus far.

A report by the ADP yesterday showed the jobs market expanding at a smaller rate than expected. 67,000 new jobs were reported in November versus an expected 137,000. The data set a softer tone for Friday’s NFP jobs report although not by much.

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Analysts had been looking for 189,000 new jobs in the NFP report on Friday but have revised down expectations to 186,000. Nevertheless, the data should trigger volatility in the FX market.

Market participants will also be paying attention to shifts in expectations for the outcome of next week’s election. Last week, the Tories lead narrowed but GBP/USD managed to breakout despite this news. This leads me to believe the hurdle for a turn in the exchange rate is a large one.

Technical Analysis

But even though it might take a major catalyst to shift the momentum in GBP/USD, I do see some resistance coming into play.

GBPUSD Daily Chart
GBPUSD Daily Chart

The level I have my eye on falls at 1.3145. On a weekly chart, this level was responsible for keeping the pair lower in the second half of 2018, when looking at price on a daily close basis. Further, it was also an important level in the first week of May when the pair gapped lower to open near the price point which ultimately marked the start of a four-month downtrend.

In addition to the horizontal level, some moving averages have come into play on a weekly chart. Namely the 100 and 200-period moving averages. Currently, the pair has crossed above both, but the weekly close in relation to them will be important.

To put things in perspective, the last time GBP/USD posted a weekly close above the 200-week moving average was five years ago.

Bottom Line

  • GBP/USD continues to show strong upward momentum.

  • Some resistance has come into play but there has not been enough price action at this stage to suggest selling pressure from the level.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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