GBP/USD slumps to fresh multi-decade lows below 1.1050

GBP/USD is down over 300 pips on the day.

The risk-averse market environment provides a boost to the greenback.

Disappointing data releases from the UK weigh heavily on GBP.

Following a consolidation phase during the Asian trading hours, GBP/USD came under heavy bearish pressure and lost more than 200 pips on the day. As of writing, the pair was trading at its lowest level since 1985 at 1.1045, down nearly 2% on a daily basis.

Earlier in the day, the data from the UK revealed that the business activity in the private sector continued to contract in early September with the preliminary Composite PMI dropping to 48.4 from 49.6 in August. This reading came in below the market expectation of 49.

Furthermore, the Confederation of British Industry's latest Distributive Trades Survey revealed that the Retail Sales Balance plunged to -20 in September from +37 in August and fueled the GBP selloff.

In addition to dismal UK data, the intense flight to safety provides a boost to the dollar and further weighs on the pair. US stock index futures were last seen losing between 1.3% and 1.6% on the day, suggesting that safe-haven flows are likely to continue to dominate the financial markets.

The US economic docket will feature S&P Global's Manufacturing and Services PMI reports later in the day.

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EUR/USD could stage a recovery if it manages to flip 0.9880 into support

EUR/USD recovered modestly during the European trading hours. The pair needs to reclaim 0.9880 to extend the rebound.

The dollar could lose interest in case US stocks rebound

“In case Wall Street's main indexes gain traction after the opening bell, the dollar could deepen its downward correction and allow EUR/USD to continue to stretch higher.”

“0.9880 (former support, static level) forms initial resistance. If EUR/USD manages to rise above that level and starts using it as support, it could target 0.9900 (psychological level), 0.9950 (static level, 20-period SMA on the four-hour chart) and 0.9980 (100-period SMA).”

“On the downside, 0.9800 (psychological level, static level) aligns as first support ahead of 0.9750 (static level from October 2002) and 0.9700 (psychological level).”

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD lifted by Putin, Fed to knock it down – TDS

Gold capitalized on safe-haven flows and climbed above $1,670 as investors seek refuge as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces military mobilization. But eyes are on the Federal Reserve. A hawkish hike is set to weigh on the yellow metal, strategists at TD Securities report.

FOMC to provide more hawkish signals

“Gold is catching a safe-haven bid as Russia has escalated the war in Ukraine with Putin declaring a partial mobilization in Russia and threatening use of nuclear weapons. Nonetheless, it is Fed day, where aggressive Fed expectations are being priced in.”

“The persistence of inflation continues to support an aggressive effort by the Fed, and we expect the FOMC to deliver its third consecutive 75 bps rate hike, bringing the policy stance decidedly above its estimate of the longer-run neutral level. We also look for the Committee to provide more hawkish signals through the update of its economic projections and for Chair Powell to build on his Jackson Hole message.” 

“While prices are certainly weak, precious metals' price action could still have further to fall as the restrictive rates regime is set to last for longer. Indeed, gold and silver prices have tended to display a systematic underperformance when markets expect the real level of the Fed funds rate to rise above the neutral rate, as estimated by Laubach-Williams.”

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GBP/USD eases from daily top amid modest USD bounce from one-week low, holds above 1.1400

GBP/USD gains some positive traction on Tuesday, though the uptick lacks bullish conviction.

A goodish USD rebound from a one-week low turns out to be a key factor capping the upside.

Any meaningful downfall seems unlikely ahead of the FOMC and the BoE meetings this week.

The GBP/USD pair builds on the previous day's recovery move from the vicinity of mid-1.1300s, or its lowest level since 1985 and edges higher through the first half of trading on Tuesday. The pair stick to modest intraday gains through the early European session, though seems to struggle to capitalize on the move beyond mid-1.1400s and retreats a few pips from the daily peak.

A combination of factors assists the US dollar to attract some dip-buying following an early slide to a one-week low, which, in turn, acts as a headwind for the GBP/USD pair. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will stick to its faster rate-hiking cycle to tame inflation remain supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. In fact, the US central bank is widely expected to deliver another supersized 75 bps rate hike at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the markets have been pricing in a small chance of a full 100 bps liftoff, which remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. The yield on the rate-sensitive two-year US government bond rose to its highest level since November 2007 and the 10-year Treasury note reached a level not seen since April 2011 on Monday. Apart from this, growing recession fears lend support to the safe-haven greenback and also contribute to capping the GBP/USD pair.

Market participants also seem reluctant to place aggressive bullish bets around the British pound amid a bleak outlook for the UK economy. This, to a larger extent, overshadows the prospects for more aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of England, which, so far, has failed to impress bulls or provide any meaningful impetus to the GBP/USD pair. The downside, however, seems cushioned as traders might prefer to move to the sidelines ahead of the key central bank event risks.

The Fed is scheduled to announce its monetary policy decision at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday. This will be followed by the BoE meeting on Thursday, which should help determine the next leg of a directional move for the GBP/USD pair. In the meantime, traders on Tuesday might take cues from the US housing market data, which along with the US bond yields and the broader risk sentiment, will drive the USD demand and provide some impetus to the major.

From a technical perspective the pair continues to rest on strong support from a the base of a multi-month falling channel at around the mid 1.13s, and it would require a daily close or open below the lower channel line for an acceleration of the bear trend. In the meantime – and prior to the main event risk of Wednesday's Fed meeting – traders are likely to content themselves with playing the bounce off this key support, scalping short runs as the market revolves.  

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GBP/USD: Charts point to a test of the all-time low at 1.0520 – BBH

Sterling is underperforming after weak retail sales data and traded near 1.1350, the lowest since 1985. Economists at BBH note that the GBP/USD pair could plummet to the all-time low at 1.0520.

Sterling pounded on anniversary of Black Wednesday

“Headline sales fell -1.6% MoM vs. -0.5% expected and a revised 0.4% (was 0.3%) in July, while sales ex-auto fuel also fell -1.6% MoM vs. 0.4% in July. As a result, the YoY rates fell to -5.4% and -5.0%, respectively. The data confirm what we all know already, and that is the economy is sliding into recession. How long and how deep this downturn will remain a great source of debate.”

“We would be remiss if we did not mention that today is the anniversary of Black Wednesday. Thirty years ago, sterling was unceremoniously ejected from the Exchange Rate Mechanism. Cable is marking the occasion by trading at its weakest level since 1985 near 1.1350. There is literally nothing in the charts until the February 1985 all-time low near 1.0520.”

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ECB's Centeno: No sign of inflation expectations de-anchoring

European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Mario Centeno said on Thursday that he does not see any signs of a de-anchoring of inflation expectations, per Reuters.

"The monetary policy must act at the margin in as small steps as possible," Centeno added and further noted that he expects the effects of unprecedented supply shocks to ease.

Market reaction

These comments don't seem to be having a significant impact on the shared currency's performance against its major rivals. As of writing, EUR/USD was up 0.15% on the day at 0.9991.

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD remains poised to test $1,688 key support

Gold price is licking its wounds near $1,700 after Tuesday’s sharp sell off.

The US dollar retreats amid a USD/JPY slide and a pause in the yields rally.

XAU/USD looks south amid a wall of powerful resistance levels.

Gold price is consolidating the previous sell off, as bears are taking a breather before resuming the next leg lower. A pause in the US Treasury yields rally combined with a broad US dollar retreat is offering a temporary reprieve to gold buyers. The bright metal remains vulnerable amid the revival of hopes for aggressive Fed tightening in the coming months. The US inflation data outpaced estimates and squashed the ‘peak inflation’ narrative, suggesting that the Fed will continue with bigger and more rapid rate hikes to control inflation. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are now pricing a 36% chance of a full percentage point Fed rate hike next week. Attention now turns towards the US key events in the second half of the week for fresh trading opportunities in the bullion.

Gold Price: Key levels to watch

The Technical Confluence Detector shows that the gold price is eyeing a firm break below the SMA5 four-hour at $1,702 to resume the bearish momentum towards the previous day’s low of $1,697.

Bears will then gear up for a test of the previous week’s low of $1,691, below which the convergence of the pivot point one-day S1 and Bollinger Band one-day Lower at $1,688 will be put at risk.

On the flip side, strong resistance is seen around $1,707, the confluence of the Fibonacci 61.8% one-week and the Fibonacci 23.6% one-day. Acceptance above the latter is needed to offer a fresh boost to XAU bulls.

The next relevant upside target is aligned at $1,710, the meeting point of the Fibonacci 38.2% one-day and SMA10 one-day. Further up, the intersection of the SMA5 one-day and the Fibonacci 38.2% one-week at $1,715 will be the level to beat for bulls.

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