By FXEmpire.com

Introduction: While the ranges are wider (and so should stops be), the lines are rather distinctive, especially towards the borders of the long term wide range. This pair makes for good trades, with the new austerity program implemented in the UK, the GBP is moving more on Fundamentals now.

  • The interest rate differential between the Bank of England(BoE) and the Federal Reserve
  • High yield and attractive growth in the UK drives GBP/USD higher

Weekly Analysis and Recommendation:

The GBP/USD closed out a winner along with the Olympics’. Negative eco data showing the UK deep in double dip recession territory along with falling PMI and retail sales was not enough to hold down this pair. The pair closed the week at 1.5643.

Date

Last

Open

High

Low

Change %

Aug 03, 2012

1.5643

1.5514

1.5657

1.5506

0.83%

Aug 02, 2012

1.5514

1.5543

1.5678

1.5491

-0.18%

Aug 01, 2012

1.5542

1.5666

1.5691

1.5532

-0.80%

Jul 31, 2012

1.5668

1.5712

1.5731

1.5626

-0.28%

Jul 30, 2012

1.5712

1.5727

1.5732

1.5674

-0.10%

As traders positioned themselves ahead of the FOMC meeting and the BoE announcement, the USD weakened allowing the GBP to open the week strong, but after the Feds and the BoE with held stimulus, the pair settled to trade at 1.5514 but rose on the weakness of the USD on Friday.

Speculation has been building that the MPC may cut Bank Rate at some point in order to maximize the impact of the QE that has already been delivered. The rationale is that there are billions of pounds parked at the Bank of England in reserves. Some argue that if the remuneration on these reserves is cut, then it will motivate the holders of these reserves to extend new loans or put the cash to work by purchasing riskier / higher yielding assets.

We will have to wait and see what is to come for the UK.

FxEmpire provides in-depth analysis for each currency and commodity we review. Fundamental analysis is provided in three components. We provide a detailed monthly analysis and forecast at the beginning of each month. Then we provide more recent analysis and information in our weeklyreports and we provide daily updates and outlooks.

Major Economic Events for the week of Aug 30 – Jul 3 actual v. forecast for Euro, GPB, the Franc, and USD

Date

Currency

Event

Actual

Forecast

Previous

Jul 30

EUR

Spanish Flash GDP q/q

-0.4%

-0.4%

-0.3%

EUR

Italian 10-y Bond Auction

5.96|1.3

5.82|1.7

Jul 31

USD

CB Consumer Confidence

65.9

61.5

62.7

Aug 1

CNY

Manufacturing PMI

50.1

50.4

50.2

GBP

Manufacturing PMI

45.4

48.6

48.4

USD

ADP Non-Farm Employment Change

163K

121K

172K

USD

ISM Manufacturing PMI

49.8

50.3

49.7

USD

FOMC Statement

Aug 2

GBP

Construction PMI

50.9

48.2

48.2

EUR

Spanish 10-y Bond Auction

6.65|2.4

6.43|3.2

GBP

Asset Purchase Facility

375B

375B

375B

GBP

Official Bank Rate

0.50%

0.50%

0.50%

EUR

Minimum Bid Rate

0.75%

0.75%

0.75%

EUR

ECB Press Conference

USD

Unemployment Claims

365K

375K

357K

Aug 3

GBP

Services PMI

51.0

51.6

51.3

USD

Non-Farm Employment Change

163K

101K

64K

USD

Unemployment Rate

8.3%

8.2%

8.2%

USD

ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI

52.6

52.1

52.1

Historical: From 2010 to Present

Highest: 1.6747 USD on April 28, 2011.

Average: 1.5751 USD over this period

Lowest: 1.4229 USD on May 20, 2010.

Economic Highlights of the coming week that affect the Euro, GBP, CHF and the USD

Date

Time

Currency

Event

Previous

Aug 6

8:30

EUR

Sentix Investor Confidence

-29.6

23:01

GBP

BRC Retail Sales Monitor y/y

1.4%

Aug 7

7:00

CHF

Foreign Currency Reserves

364.9B

7:15

CHF

CPI m/m

-0.3%

8:00

EUR

Italian Industrial Production m/m

0.8%

8:30

GBP

Manufacturing Production m/m

1.2%

10:00

EUR

German Factory Orders m/m

0.6%

14:00

GBP

NIESR GDP Estimate

-0.2%

Aug 8

5:45

CHF

SECO Consumer Climate

-8

9:30

GBP

BOE Inflation Report

10:00

EUR

German Industrial Production m/m

1.6%

12:30

USD

Prelim Nonfarm Productivity q/q

-0.9%

12:30

USD

Prelim Unit Labor Costs q/q

1.3%

14:30

USD

Crude Oil Inventories

Aug 9

8:00

EUR

ECB Monthly Bulletin

8:30

GBP

Trade Balance

-8.4B

12:30

USD

Trade Balance

-48.7B

12:30

USD

Unemployment Claims

Aug 10

6:45

EUR

French Industrial Production m/m

-1.9%

8:30

GBP

PPI Input m/m

-2.2%

12:30

USD

Import Prices m/m

-2.7%

18:00

USD

Federal Budget Balance

-59.7B

Upcoming Government Bond Auctions

Date Time Country

Aug 06 09:10 Norway

Aug 07 00:30 Japan

Aug 07 09:15 Austria

Aug 07 14:30 UK

Aug 07 17:00 US

Aug 08 09:30 Germany

Aug 08 10:00 Norway

Aug 08 15:30 Italy

Aug 08 17:00 US

Aug 09 15:30 Italy

Aug 09 17:00 US

Aug 10 10:00 Belgium

Aug 13 09:10 Italy

Aug 13 09:10 Norway

Aug 13 09:30 Germany

Aug 14 09:10 Greece

Aug 14 09:10 Italy

Aug 14 09:30 Belgium

Aug 14 14:30 UK

Aug 15 09:10 Sweden

Aug 16 09:30 UK

Aug 16 15:00 US

Click here for updated GBP/USD News.

Originally posted here