empty
11.12.2024 12:37 AM
The UK Economy Slows Down: GBP/USD Analysis

The UK's industrial sector has responded to the new budget presented by the Labour Party with decreased business confidence and slower hiring. While considered secondary indicators with limited direct impact on the pound's exchange rate, several metrics clearly show a slowdown: business confidence in November fell to its lowest level since January 2023, and the BDO optimism index dropped by 5.81 points over the month to 93.49, marking the steepest monthly decline since August 2021. According to BDO, the decline observed in both the services and manufacturing sectors "likely reflects an immediate reaction by businesses to statements made in the autumn budget."

Job vacancies in November fell at the fastest pace since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with demand for personnel decreasing "sharply and at an accelerated pace."

On Thursday, the NIESR will release its estimate of GDP growth for November. Friday will be critical for the pound, with the release of data on the trade balance, industrial production, and GDP for October. While these data points may not significantly impact the pound's exchange rate on their own, they are important for forecasting the outcomes of next week's Bank of England (BoE) meeting. Before the BoE meeting, several crucial releases are expected, including preliminary PMI data for December and reports on the labor market and consumer inflation. These reports will serve as the basis for the market's final projections.

This image is no longer relevant

The BoE's decision remains unclear. The market assumes the rate will stay at 4.75%, but policymakers' comments are contradictory. MPC member Catherine Mann argues that inflation in the services sector remains "stubbornly high," driven by wage growth, and has stated she will vote against a rate cut. At the same time, MPC member Swati Dhingra, on the other hand, highlights that monetary policy is restrictive, suppressing supply volumes, investment, and consumption, suggesting that policy easing is needed.

Given these conflicting perspectives, the pound lacks clear drivers for continued growth and has limited reasons for further decline. The bearish trend remains intact, but whether the corrective phase has ended is unclear.

The net long position in GBP has decreased by £169 million to £1.53 billion. Despite this relatively small reduction, the position has moved closer to neutral. The estimated price has fallen significantly below the long-term average, but the decline has slowed over the past week.

This image is no longer relevant

GBP/USD is currently in a phase of corrective growth, which is likely not yet complete. The pair has yet to reach the 1.2830/40 resistance zone, identified as a potential turning point for a southward reversal. While another attempt at growth cannot be ruled out, it is unlikely to be substantial. A more probable scenario is a resumption of the downtrend toward 1.23, the long-term target.

Kuvat Raharjo,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

The Bank of England to Slow Down the Pace of Policy Easing

The Bank of England recently cut interest rates for the second time in 2025, justifying its decision with slowing inflation and steady movement toward the target level. But no sooner

Chin Zhao 00:05 2025-05-22 UTC+2

The Dollar Sawed Off the Branch It Was Sitting On

Can the euro be considered a strong currency? I have significant doubts about that. An independent group of economic advisors to Friedrich Merz forecasts that the German economy will enter

Marek Petkovich 00:05 2025-05-22 UTC+2

The Yen Goes on a Buyer Strike

A collapse in confidence in the U.S. dollar, rumors of coordinated currency intervention, and capital repatriation to Japan are driving USD/JPY back into a downtrend. The music playing

Marek Petkovich 00:05 2025-05-22 UTC+2

EUR/USD: Continued Weakness in the U.S. Dollar

The four-week-long southern impulse we saw in EUR/USD has fully faded. Last week, sellers pushed the pair to a monthly low at 1.1066, but then seemed to "fear their

Irina Manzenko 18:59 2025-05-21 UTC+2

High Inflation Supports the Pound. GBP/USD Outlook

The UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 2.6% to 3.5% in April, surprising the market, which had expected an increase to 3.3%. The core CPI also exceeded forecasts

Kuvat Raharjo 18:47 2025-05-21 UTC+2

USD/CAD. Analysis and Forecast

The USD/CAD pair is attracting sellers for the third consecutive day. A break below the 1.3900 level signals increased selling pressure, which could lead to further downside. Rising oil prices—driven

Irina Yanina 18:41 2025-05-21 UTC+2

USD/CHF. Analysis and Forecast

For the third consecutive day, the USD/CHF pair continues to lose ground. The fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance remains to the downside. The pair has been

Irina Yanina 18:38 2025-05-21 UTC+2

GBP/JPY. Analysis and Forecast

Following the release of UK consumer inflation data, which came in above expectations, the GBP/JPY pair slightly pared back its intraday losses. However, it failed to attract significant buying interest

Irina Yanina 11:25 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Will Global Central Banks Continue to Cut Interest Rates? (Bitcoin May Resume Growth and USD/JPY May Decline)

Among the economically developed nations—those that belong to the Western wing of the global economy—there is an important rule: a target of 2% inflation, specifically consumer inflation. Achieving this target

Pati Gani 09:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Market: Do or Die!

Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. The S&P 500 rally from the April lows—adding $8.6 trillion in market cap—often appeared irrational. Investors ignored the Federal Reserve's

Marek Petkovich 08:23 2025-05-21 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.