The Independent News and Data Provider
amount
from
to
Image © Adobe Images
The Pound to Dollar exchange rate has reversed more than one half of this year’s decline but will now run the risk of a corrective setback that could pull it toward 1.20 or perhaps even back below there over the coming days.
Sterling rose in what was a buoyant market for risky assets and a hostile environment for the U.S. Dollar last week but it was unable to overcome a double-barreled layer of technical resistance around 1.2174 on the charts and could now struggle to advance further in the days ahead.
This is partly because of developments in China over the weekend where fresh unrest over the latest round of coronavirus-related restrictions is likely to keep financial markets focused on the heavy economic costs of the government’s continuing attempt to contain the virus.
That would be a dampener for global market risk appetite and something that could set the Pound to Dollar rate onto its back foot from early on this week.
“New cases have risen sharply in recent weeks which is increasing the risk of tighter restrictions and a more marked growth slowdown heading into year end. Those fears should offer some much-needed support for the USD,” writes Lee Hardman, a currency analyst at MUFG, in a Friday market commentary. 
Above: GBP/USD shown at daily intervals with Fibonacci retracements of late March decline indicating possible areas of technical resistance for Sterling. Selected moving-averages denote possible areas of support and resistance. Click image for closer inspection.
“Fed Chair Powell is expected to push back as well in the week ahead against the recent easing of financial conditions. It should encourage the USD to rebound after the heavy sell-off this month,” Hardman adds after advocating that clients consider selling NZD/USD this week.
While developments in China are likely to set the mood around the opening of the week, Wednesday’s speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and this Friday’s release of the November non-farm payrolls report will be most consequential for the Pound to Dollar rate outlook.
“GBP is currently trading near a three month high because of the recent depreciation in the USD and less UK political uncertainty,” says Joseph Capurso, head of international economics at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
“FOMC chair Powell may cause market participants to reassess the global economic outlook because he is likely to talk up the need for tighter financial conditions,” he adds in a Monday research briefing.
Above: Pound to Dollar rate shown at daily intervals with Fibonacci retracements of late September and early November rallies iindicating possible areas of technical support for Sterling. Selected moving-averages denote possible areas of support and resistance. Click image for closer inspection. If you are looking to protect or improve your international payment budget you can secure today’s rate for use in the future or set an order to lock-in your ideal rate whenever it becomes available. More information can be found here.
Capurso and colleagues look for the Pound to rise during the opening half of the week but have warned that it and other currencies could lose ground from Wednesday if Jerome Powell succeeds in reviving an earlier rally in U.S. bond yields or if his remarks lead financial markets to shun risky assets.
There is a significant risk or chance that Chairman Powell will dispel on Wednesday the market exuberance that had led Dollars to be sold in favour of riskier currencies during the weeks since official figures suggested earlier in November that U.S. inflation rates had fallen back in October.
“He is expected to push back against a premature easing of financial conditions by reiterating that rates are likely to rise to a higher level than previously expected. The Fed’s policy plans remain heavily dependent on incoming economic data,” MUFG’s Hardman says.
“Insight into the US growth and inflation outlook will be provided by the release of the latest NFP report, ISM manufacturing survey and PCE deflator report. Recent data has pointed to a softening of growth and inflation momentum encouraging speculation over a slowdown in the pace of Fed hikes,” he adds. 
Above: Pound to Dollar rate shown at weekly intervals with Fibonacci retracements of late March decline indicating possible areas of technical resistance for Sterling. Click image for closer inspection.To optimise the timing of international payments you could consider setting a free FX rate alert here.
Markets celebrated the recent decline in U.S. inflation as if it meant an end to the Fed’s interest rate cycle is near but the danger is that Chairman Powell reiterates on Wednesday that borrowing costs are still likely to be lifted further and held at their peak until inflaton is well on its way back to the 2% target.
This could cause upset in financial markets, risk aversion among investors and losses for the Pound-Dollar rate if the Fed chair makes clear at the same time that borrowing costs are likely to be lifted to higher levels and held there even if the economy and labour market show clear signs of deterioration.
There is a risk that such signs will be visible as soon as this week when U.S. GDP data for the third quarter is released on Wednesday, which comes ahead of the November non-farm payrolls report in which economists are expecting to see further strong jobs growth with employment up by an anticipated 200k.
However, corporate earnings figures released over the course of October and early November have made clear that even some of the largest U.S. companies have begun to lay off workers due to a deteriorating domestic and international economic environment, meaning that a deterioration of the employment data may not be that far off.
Companies laying off workers in the U.S. include 3M, American Airlines, Coca Cola, Best Buy, Ford, Unilever, Gap, Microsoft and FedEx.
Tagged under
Pound to Euro Forecast | Pound to Dollar Forecast | Euro to Dollar Forecast | Pound to Australian Dollar Forecast | Pound to New Zealand Dollar Forecast | Pound to Canadian Dollar Forecast
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
USD
16 December, 2022 |
The Pound to Dollar exchange rate fell further in the final session of the week to round off what was a bruising period for Sterling and many other currencies but it also appeared to be stabilising above its nearby 200-day moving-average ahead of the weekend.
USD
14 December, 2022 |
The Dollar strengthened after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 50 basis points and lifted its projections of where it expects interest rates to settle at the end of the hiking cycle in 2023.
USD
14 December, 2022 |
GBP/USD is in a clearly defined short-term rally but Wednesday evening’s Federal Reserve rate decision is the second of three hurdles the exchange rate must leap ahead of the Christmas break.
USD
13 December, 2022 |
The Federal Reserve will feel justified in slowing down the pace it raises interest rates after U.S. inflation roundly underwhelmed expectations in November. 
All Content © Pound Sterling Live 2022. Any copying and reproduction of our content – verbatim or altered – will prompt a response from our legal representatives. 
Pound Sterling Live is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact the Editor. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk
The news and information contained on this site is by no means investment advice. All quoted exchange rates are indicative. We cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of third-party providers.
Contact | About Us | How we are Funded | Our Editorial and Ethics Guidelines | Editor and Journalist Profiles
All Content by Pound Sterling Live.
Pound to Dollar Week Ahead Forecast: Corrective Setback Risks Abound – Pound Sterling Live
