See also
On Tuesday, the GBP/USD pair moved both upward and downward. However, the British pound had additional reasons to decline early in the session. In the morning, the UK released reports on unemployment and jobless claims, which triggered a sell-off in the pound. Contrary to forecasts and expectations, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1%, and the number of newly unemployed rose by 26,000—significantly above projections. As a result, the decline in sterling was entirely justified.
In the second half of the day, Jerome Powell offered some relief for the pound. Once again, he stated that the Federal Reserve has no specific plans to cut interest rates and that decisions will be based solely on incoming macroeconomic data. A bit later, Donald Trump threatened to stop importing vegetable oil from China, which hurt the U.S. dollar and contributed to its fall. Overall, we expect a continued decline in the dollar, particularly after the descending trendline was broken.
On the 5-minute timeframe, GBP/USD produced more trading signals than EUR/USD and showed higher volatility. In the early morning, a sell signal was generated around the 1.3329–1.3331 zone. After that, the pair moved down to 1.3259. That support level triggered at least three rebounds throughout the day, and by its end, the pair had returned to the 1.3329–1.3331 area. Therefore, beginner traders could have executed two trades, both of which ended with a profit.
On the hourly timeframe, GBP/USD continues to form a downward trend, which in our view is long overdue for completion. As previously mentioned, there are no strong reasons for the U.S. dollar to rise over the medium term, so we still anticipate a return to an upward movement. The market remains in a peculiar state. The British pound continues to fall, but there is no clear justification for the decline—outside of technical factors. Much of the current movement appears irrational.
On Wednesday, the GBP/USD pair may attempt a continued upward correction, as the trendline has already been broken. A confirmed breakout above the 1.3329–1.3331 zone also opens the path for initiating long positions with a target at 1.3413.
On the 5-minute TF, you can now trade at levels 1.3102-1.3107, 1.3203-1.3211, 1.3259, 1.3329-1.3331, 1.3413-1.3421, 1.3466-1.3475, 1.3529-1.3543, 1.3574-1.3590, 1.3643-1.3652, 1.3682, and 1.3763. For Wednesday, there are no major economic releases scheduled in the UK or U.S., so we may see a flat market or low-volatility price action during the day.
Important Note:
Major speeches and reports (always listed in the news calendar) can have a significant impact on currency pair movements. During such events, it is best to trade with maximum caution or exit the market entirely to avoid getting caught in sharp price reversals.
Beginner traders should remember:
Not every trade will be profitable. Developing a sound strategy and utilizing proper money management are key to success over the long run.