The US Dollar (via the DXY Index) is working on its fourth consecutive day of gains, building further on the bullish daily key reversal seen at the yearly lows on Friday. In part, the US Dollar’s rebound has been aided today by disappointing data out of Europe: Euro-Zone PMI readings missed expectations; and the UK jobs report showed an unexpected uptick in the unemployment rate.

Focusing on the British Pound, traders should turn their attention to the group of Bank of England policymakers speaking at 9:15 EST/14:15 GMT today given recent inflation and labor market data. Despite weakness on headline GDP (due out later in the week at +1.5% annualized), price pressures remain stubbornly high and real disposable income remains under pressure.

Amid strong signaling from BOE policymakers in recent weeks, the British Pound has started the year as the second best performing currency versus the US Dollar as rates markets have dragged forward the expected timing of the next 25-bps rate hike from August to May (greater than a 60% chance, according to overnight index swaps). Further losses by the British Pound could be stunted today should the Carney-Broadbent-Haldane-Tenreyro discussion confirm the market’s more hawkish expectations.

Price Chart 1: GBP/USD Daily Timeframe (August 2017 to February 2018)

Otherwise, the rebound in the DXY Index appears to be due to the short dollar positioning unwinding ahead of the January FOMC meeting minutes release this afternoon at 14 EST/19 GMT.

The Federal Reserve’s January policy meeting was a placeholder for the US Dollar in more ways than one. Just a month removed from the December rate hike, policymakers were staying the course. There has been a good deal of chatter suggesting that the FOMC will signal that four rate hikes this year are possible, which speculation around may be helping the greenback rebound.

Price Chart 2: DXY Index Daily Timeframe (September 2017 to February 2018)