Mid-Week Technical Outlook: Pound Crosses In Focus

Sterling hijacked our attention on Wednesday after official data revealed that UK inflation hit double digits for the first time in 40 years!

Consumer prices rose 10.1% in July from a year ago after a 9.4% gain in June. This was the highest reading since February 1982 as prices rose for food, housing & utilities and alcoholic beverages among other products/services. Although this red-hot CPI report will reinforce expectations over the BoE aggressively raising interest rates, it will also create more uncertainty over the UK’s economic outlook.

We saw the Pound appreciate against most G10 currencies following the report as BoE rate hike bets jumped.

GBPUSD remains in wide range

The GBPUSD remains in a wide range despite the red-hot inflation figures. Support can be found at 1.2000 and resistance around 1.2155. A solid break under 1.2000 may open the doors towards 1.1900 and lower. Alternatively, a strong breakout above 1.2155 could spark a move towards 1.2250 and 1.2350.

GBPJPY set to push higher?

It has been a roller coaster ride on the GBPJPY. Prices have been volatile, choppy and all over the place. Prices are back above the 100-day Simple Moving Average and slowing approaching 164.00. A strong move above 164.00 signal an incline towards 166.00. If bears are able to pull the GBPJPY back below 162.00, the next level of interest cant be found at 160.00.

EURGBP in downtrend

The EURGBP remains in a bearish trend as there have been consistently lower lows and lower highs. Prices are trading below the 50,100 and 200-day Simple Moving Average while the MACD trades below zero. Sustained weakness below 0.8440 could encourage a selloff towards 0.8340. A breakout above 0.8440 is likely to encourage bulls to target 0.8500.

GBPAUD heading into resistance?

Pound bulls seem to be gaining momentum on the GBPAUD with prices pushing towards the 50-day Simple Moving Average. There could be some resistance here as the 100-day SMA resides just above. If these two obstacles can be cleared, prices may test the 1.7650 level and 1.7800, respectively. Should bulls tire and prices sink back below 1.7300, the next key point can be found at 1.7000.