GBP/USD under pressure amid ongoing UK lockdown

GBP/USD is trading below 1.25 as the UK is set to remain in lockdown for longer after seeing Germany’s rise in its infection rate. PM Johnson is set to deliver his first coronavirus briefing. The pair was unable to take advantage of previous dollar weakness.

Pound/dollar is trading at the as broad uptrend but has recently set lower highs and lower lows, an initial bearish sign. It continues trading above the 50, 100, and 200 Simple Moving Averages on the four-hour chart, and momentum is to the upside. All in all, bulls are in the lead but losing some strength. 

Some support awaits at .2450, which was a stepping stone on the way up. It is followed by 1.2390, Wednesday’s low, and then by 1.2360, which capped it last week. NExt, 1.23, and 1.2250 await the pair.

Looking up, the weekly high of 1.2525 is significant resistance after holding GBP/USD down this week and also beforehand. It is followed by 1.2575, which was a swing high in mid-April, and by 1.2645, the monthly high.

Cable cannot climb – the pound has failed to take advantage of dollar weakness – stemming from various factors – and could be ready to fall. 

The UK is set to extend its lockdown which currently runs through May 7. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab – who was in charge for a few weeks – hinted that the shuttering will continue amid fears of a second wave. He cited Germany’s rise in the infection rate which may force that country to reimpose restrictions. 

The mood is gloomy after the government succumbed to pressure and included COVID-19 deaths outside hospitals in its official count, bringing the total to above 26,000. The ball is now in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s court.

The PM returned to Downing Street on Monday after recovering from the disease but was off on Wednesday to attend the birth of his new baby boy. He will now lead the daily coronavirus briefing and may shed more light on the next moves. Criticism about the government’s late response to the crisis, its mismanagement of medical equipment – and Johnson’s near-death experience – may cause him to err on the side of caution.

Dollar weakness

GBP/USD edged up on Wednesday but was unable to benefit from the greenback giving ground. The Federal Reserve left its policies unchanged yet made an unequivocal pledge to do whatever is necessary, weighing on the safe-haven dollar.

The Fed said it would leave rates at the bottom until the economy returns back to the track and would also buy bonds “at the amount needed.” Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, said he is ready to more and called the government to expand its fiscal stimulus.

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The bank’s decision came in the wake of devastating growth figures. Gross Domestic Product plunged by 4.8% annualized, worse than expected – and things will certainly get worse in the second quarter. Weekly jobless claims are due out on Thursday, and while they may fall for the fourth consecutive week, the total number of job losses may exceed 30 million since mid-March. 

See US Initial Jobless Claims Preview: When is less more?

The market mood was generally upbeat and the greenback under pressure also beforehand, amid promising results for a drug that with curing COVID-19. Gilead’s Remdesivir lowered the mortality rate and aided the recovery of sick patients. White House officials expressed optimism, yet the full study is yet to be published. Th White House is also working to accelerate the production of vaccines, once one is found.

US President Donald Trump harshly criticized China and blamed it for doing anything to jeopardize his reelection chances and not implementing the trade deal. His words somewhat dampened the mood and helped the dollar recover. However, GBP/USD remains locked.

Overall, news related to the lockdown, US data, and digesting the Fed decision will all play a role in shaping cable trading.

Source from https://www.fxstreet.com/currencies/gbpusd

Komen anda

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