Event to watch out for today:
15:30 EET. USD – Quarterly GDP Change
GBPUSD:
The GBP/USD pair is trading slightly higher around 1.2445 in the early hours of European trading on Thursday. The moderate decline in the US dollar is providing some support to the major pair. Investors will be keeping a close eye on the preliminary US gross domestic product (GDP) data for the fourth quarter (Q4), due for release later today.
GBP/USD spun in a tight circle on Wednesday, briefly dipping into the 1.2400 area after the Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates unchanged. Interest rate futures markets generally predicted no movement on interest rates as the Fed sees little reason to rush into further rate cuts. The second half of the trading week will see the release of key U.S. data to see if the Fed did the right thing.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) left rates unchanged as futures markets had predicted, with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reiterating that the Fed takes a data-dependent approach when adjusting rates. Fed Chairman Powell noted that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is closely watching what policies US President Donald Trump will pursue, but denied that the newly elected US President has been in direct contact with the Fed.
Fed Chairman Powell said that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is closely monitoring what policies US President Donald Trump will pursue, but denied that the newly elected US president has had direct contact with the Fed. As an independent federal agency, the White House has little influence over policy recommendations made by the Federal Reserve.
Fed Chairman Powell also noted that while inflation is still trending toward the medium target level, the current economic landscape, as well as some concerns about the sweeping trade policies pursued by US President Trump, mean that the Fed is in no hurry to adjust the restrictive nature of rates. Betting markets have lowered their bets on a Fed rate cut in 2025. According to CME’s FedWatch tool, rate futures markets are pricing in no change in the federal funds rate until June at the earliest.
Trading recommendation: Watch the level of 1.2450, when fixing above it consider Buy positions, when rebounding consider Sell positions.
Origin: FreshForex
