Time Zone: GMT +3
Time Frame: 4 Hours (H4)
Fundamental Analysis
The GBP/USD pair is influenced today by key economic indicators from both the UK and the US. In the UK, the latest retail sales figures from the Office for National Statistics will be closely watched. Retail sales are a primary indicator of consumer spending and economic health; a better-than-expected result could boost the GBP currency. In the US, data from the Treasury Department on long-term securities purchases (TIC) and building permits provide insights into economic activity. Positive data from the US could strengthen the USD symbol, putting downward pressure on GBP USD forex pair. Additionally, the upcoming speech by Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller could offer clues about future US monetary policy, potentially adding volatility to the pair.
Price Action
The GBPUSD H4 chart reveals that the pair has been in a bearish trend for the past few weeks, although the most recent candles show some bullish recovery attempts. Out of the last candles, some of the last candles have turned bullish, indicating possible signs of short-term consolidation or retracement. The GBPUSD price is currently attempting to break above the lower boundary of the parabolic channel (in dark orange), which it has been trading below, indicating ongoing bearish momentum. However, if the price manages to break and hold above the 1.30204 level, further upside could be expected, leading to a potential shift in market sentiment.
Key Technical Indicators
%R Indicator: The Williams %R is at -57.93, which is mid-range and indicates that the price is neither overbought nor oversold. This suggests that while the price has some room for movement in either direction, the current trend remains bearish until further evidence shows otherwise.
Stochastic Oscillator (5,3,3): The Stochastic indicator shows a value of 80.92 and 76.87, indicating that the pair is nearing overbought conditions. This might suggest a short-term pullback or consolidation before any continued upward movement, especially if resistance levels are not breached.
Parabolic SAR: The Parabolic SAR dots (in DeepSkyBlue) are currently positioned above the GBP USD price, confirming the ongoing bearish trend. The price is attempting to push through the lower boundary of the channel, indicating a potential breakout if momentum builds. However, traders should be cautious, as the overall trend remains bearish until the parabolic dots shift below the price.
Support and Resistance
Support: The immediate support level is at 1.29800, which aligns with a previous low and the lower boundary of the Fibonacci retracement level.
Resistance: The nearest resistance is at 1.30250, with a higher level at 1.30880, which corresponds with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level and could act as a barrier if the price attempts to move higher.
Conclusion and Consideration
The GBP-USD currency pair is currently attempting to recover from its bearish trend on the H4 chart. Despite recent bullish candles, the trend remains predominantly bearish, as indicated by technical indicators such as the Parabolic SAR and Williams %R. Traders should monitor support at 1. 29800 and resistance at 1.30250 closely. A break above 1.30250 could lead to further bullish momentum, but failure to hold above this level may result in continued bearish pressure. Market participants should also keep an eye on the upcoming US and UK economic data releases for potential impacts on GBP/USD volatility.
Disclaimer: This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Trading forex carries a high level of risk, and traders should conduct their own analysis before making any trading decisions.