GBP/USD – Bullish break on chartsGBP/USD clocked a high of 1.4451 on Friday, before trimming gains to end the day at 1.44. The day end closing was just above the inverse head and shoulder neckline level of 1.4395.
The upside break comes after US President Obama urged Britons to vote in favor of EU membership. GBP bears worry that could force Britons to rethink about the consequences of Brexit and consider voting for and not against EU membership. Note that latest polls have shown a sharp rise “undecided” category. This represents rising caution on account of uncertainty surrounding the impact of Brexit and usually under such situations people end up favoring status quo, which in this case means “in” vote. No wonder then Sterling is on the rise off late and may continue to do so unless a political bigwig in the UK throws his weight behind “exit” vote and/or polls show a sharp rise in “exit” vote.
The data calendar in UK and across the pond is light, hence doors are wide open for chart driven trading to take control of the pair. Asian equities have begun the week on a back foot and a similar action in FTSE and other major European markets could kill demand for high yielders.
Daily Chart
Pattern – Inverse head and shoulder breakout
Resistance – 1.4472, 1.4514, 1.4566
Support – 1.4425, 1.4389, 1.4350
Resistance at 1.4514 stands exposed as Cable’s inverse head and shoulder breakout on the daily chart couple with a bullish daily RSI has reinforced bulls.
Spot is attempting a rebound from 100-DMA level of 1.4425 after failing near 1.4472 (76.4% of 1.4669-1.3835) in Asia.
Fresh intraday demand could be anticipated if the spot jumps above 1.4472.
On the downside, area around 1.4390 is a strong support, which if taken out on daily closing basis would signal the bullish break was a “fakeout”.
Gbpusd-trading
GBPUSD – looking to re-test Inv. H&S neckline nowResistance – 1.4392, 1.4436, 1.45
Support – 1.4350, 1.43, 1.4252
GBP traded weak as expected in Europe, but bears failed to keep it below 1.4320, with prices now breaking higher from triangle formation on a 5- minute chart.
A re-test of inverse head and shoulder neckline at 1.4392 appears likely. A violation there would expose 1.4438 levels.
On the lower side, only a break below 1.4320 would signal intraday bullish invalidation.
GBP/USD – under pressure after weak retail salesResistance – 1.4350, 1.44, 1.4438 (100-DMA)
Support – 1.4308-1.43, 1.4252, 1.4223 (50-DMA)
A weaker-than-expected UK retail sales was largely in line with our expectations and the Pound is now flirting with looking to take out support at 1.4308. The currency pair was losing ground in anticipation of weak data; hence immediate reaction following the data release was somewhat tepid.
Nevertheless, bulls need to defend area around 1.4308-1.43 as a violation there could result in a quick fire drop to 1.4252 levels. Note that a weak data comes after multiple failures to take out inverse head and shoulder neckline level and the combined effect could empower bears.
GBP/USD eyes UK retail sales releasePrice action yesterday
Cable made multiple failed attempts to take out inverted head and shoulder neckline seen yesterday at 1.4402. The second attempt was widely expected to result in an upside break since the pair bounced off from around key support level of 1.4350 after dismal UK labor and wage growth data release. However, dollar demand was strong in the NY session, thus resulting in a drop below 1.4350 and a day end closing of 1.4330, which is 23.6% Fibo of 1.5930-1.3835.
UK retail sales may surprise on the downside
Consumer spending as represented by retail sales figure is due for release today. Consumer spending has been the main driver of economic growth in the UK in recent months. However, the data due today is likely to show another month-on-month contraction in the retail sales, thereby adding evidence to the slowdown in the UK economy.
A drop in the retail sales could be more than expected if British Retail Consortium (BRC) figure released on April 11 are to be believed. BRC’s like-for-like sales gauge fell 0.7% in March on a year earlier, the biggest drop since last August. The latest figure did carry a distortion due to early Easter; however, the overall trend was weak. BRC had described March figure as “relatively disappointing” and said “retailers were also feeling longer-standing pressures”.
Hence, odds of a weaker-than-expected release are high, in which case we can expect Cable to test its 5-DMA seen around 1.4308 levels. Another point worth noting is Cable ignored BRC figure release on April 11 and posted sharp gains. Thus, a weaker retail sales release could see exaggerated drop towards 1.4252 levels.
On the other hand, a positive surprise would help Cable make another attempt to take out inverse head and shoulder neckline seen today around 1.4395 levels.
Technicals – Bull grip weakening due to repeated failure at Inv. H&S neckline
Cable’s multiple failure to take out inverse head and shoulder neckline in past two trading days coupled with a daily closing below 1.4350 and back inside falling channel seen on the daily chart indicates support at 1.4308-1.43 could be put to test, breach of which could yield 1.4252 (50% of 1.4669-1.3835).
On the higher side, 1.4395 (Inv. H&S neckline today) stands as a strong resistance, this needs to be breached, preferably on daily closing basis, if pair has to witness sustained rally.
Intraday break above 1.4395 could see prices test 100-DMA at 1.4438 levels.
GBP/USD – Inverse head and shoulder ahead of UK labor data GBP/USD breached falling channel seen on the daily chart in the NY session yesterday and tested supply around the inverse head and shoulder neckline hurdle. Prices clocked a high of 1.4419 before bullish move ran out of steam. The bird is losing height in early Europe today; now trading around 1.4350 levels.
Points to be noted heading into data release
GBP bulls have been buoyed by latest Brexit polls showing ‘remain’ vote gaining an edge over ‘exit’ vote. UK TNS EU poll released today showed 38% in favor of ‘remain’, 34% in favor of ‘leave’. 28% still stand undecided.
However, oil prices are losing ground today and that is hurting risk sentiment, courtesy of which Cable dropped to 1.4350 levels.
UK data due today is likely to show –
Jobless Claims dropped for Fifth Consecutive Month in March
Average weekly earnings including bonus to rise 2.3% 3M/y/y in Feb from Mar’s 2.1%
Average weekly earnings excluding bonus to rise 2.1% 3M/y/y in Feb from Mar’s 2.2%
An uptick in the average weekly earnings including bonus may have been priced-in during Tuesday’s uptrend. Hence, it would take a better-than-expected earnings figure for markets to consider buying Sterling amid oil price drop. Moreover, a strong wage growth and labor market figure against backdrop of Brexit polls showing “remain” vote in lead means a less reason for BOE to telegraph a delay in the rate hike. This could help Cable cut through offers around inverse head and shoulder neckline level of 1.4402.
On the other hand, a weaker-than-expected wage growth and labor market data could add credence to the technical failure at neckline level of 1.4402 seen in Asia today and may open doors for a drop to 1.43-1.4250 levels.
Daily Chart
Pattern – Inverse Head and Shoulder
Resistance – 1.4368, 1.4402-1.4418, 1.4436-1.4459
Support – 1.4354, 1.43, 1.4255-1.4252
GBP’s rebound from 1.4354 (23.6% of 1.3835-1.4514) could result in another re-test of inverse head and shoulder neckline level of 1.4402.
When viewed against the backdrop of bullish break from falling channel seen yesterday coupled with bullish move in RSI, the pair appears more likely to chew through offers around 1.4402-1.4418 and make a move to 1.4459 levels, beyond which a stiff resistance is seen at 1.45-1.4514 levels.
Conversely, a dismal data may trigger a drop towards 1.43 handle, under which 1.4252 (50% of 1.4669-1.3835) stands exposed. However, bears need to observe caution as fresh demand could be anticipated on dips as long as 50-DMA at 1.4227 remains a support level.
GBPUSD TIME TO SHORT!We took profit on cable long yesterday around 1.4435, for the past 24HRS we have seen a familiar pattern in the pair and we go short from here: 1.4400. From this level we expect price to break 1.4328 down and continue lower. We are entering this position with small lots with posibility to add after the break of 1.4328. If the pair manage to break the 1.4328, the next level is 1.4195 before 1.4080.
Alternatively, a trade above 1.44352 will open more upside move in the pair. StopLoss : 1.4435
GLT and trade with care