GBP/USD had a relatively narrow range of trading and eventually ended the week higher. The new budget is the main event in a week that will certainly see Brexit talk moving markets once again. Here are the key events and an updated technical analysis for GBP/USD.

UK services PMI beat expectations and the bucked the trend of falling forward-looking indices. On the other hand, manufacturing output fell short of projections. On the Brexit front, the EU’s response to May’s speech was quite cold and the issue of the Irish border remains prevalent. In the US, the tariff talk had little impact on GBP/USD but the news of a breakthrough in the Korean peninsula helped cable stabilize. The US gained no less than 313K jobs but wage growth slipped to 2.6% casting doubts on the next Fed moves.

Updates

GBP/USD daily graph with resistance and support lines on it. Click to enlarge:

  • Annual Budget Release: Tuesday, 11:30. The Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond will present the new UK budget. This event, also known as the Spring Statement, will consist of new forecasts for the economy. In the event, growth forecasts were below 2% annually for all of the years in the forecast’s horizon. This will likely be no different due to uncertainty regarding Brexit. Any upgrade or downgrade may move the pound.
  • CB Leading Index: Friday, 13:30. This composite indicator, comprised of 7 indicators, has dropped by 0.2% in December. We will now get the first read for 2018.
  • GBP/USD Technical Analysis

    Pound/dollar traded in a narrow range, holding above 1.3765 (mentioned last week).

    Technical lines from top to bottom:

    1.4345 is the January 2018 swing high that is worth watching. 1.4280 was a top line in early February and it comes next.

    1.4150 capped the pair in mid-February. 1.4070 is next, after serving as a swing high in late February.

    It is followed by the round level of 1.40, which is eyed by many. 1.3935 was a pivotal line in the range.

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