GBP/USD angling bearishly below 1.2650 as Brexit rests in full view


  • Brexit remains the key driver for the Pound in broader markets as PM May seeks to delay a critical divorce bill vote.
  • Warnings from Brussels that no further negotiation room is available are becoming increasingly stern.

GBP/USD is trading sluggishly just beneath the 1.2650 zone heading into Friday's London markets, and the Cable market has stalled out as traders await further moves on Brexit, with little on the data docket to cap off a volatile week that has seen the Sterling peak-to-trough around 280 pips against the greenback, and currently sits at the 50% retrace of the week's low at 1.2477.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May won her party's no-confidence vote this week, with Tory conservatives voting 200-117 in favour of retaining May as the party's leader, but the 83-seat spread has fired a keen warning shot across Mrs. May's bow, and the lead in votes the PM enjoyed is likely due to the fact that she promised to not run for re-election in the next bid for a Tory leader.

With the Tory confidence vote out of the way, Brexit woes can continue afresh to drag on the Cable: Theresa May could still face a more drastic no-confidence vote in the UK's House of Commons, which would dissolve her ruling government, and the current Brexit proposal on the table still has yet to be voted on by parliament after May pulled the critical vote last-minute earlier this week instead of facing a crushing defeat. May made a last-minute jaunt to Brussels to seek even more negotiations from EU leaders in Brussels, but was met with flat rejections as the European Union firmly puts its foot down, declaring that no further concessions or negotiations will be taking place; the offer on the table is all-or-nothing, and little else remains but to put the divorce bill to a parliamentary vote, a move that PM May and her cabinet are hoping to delay until January in an effort to wind down the Brexit clock in hopes that the lack of negotiating time will see nay voters turn into supporters and get her best-of-neither-world proposal passed.

GBP/USD Levels to watch

Current Cable action currently sees the GBP/USD pair strangled just beneath a bearish-tilted 50-period moving average on the 40hour candlesticks, currently perched at 1.2670, and as FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik noted, "the GBP/USD pair trades around 1.2650, developing above a firmly bearish 20 SMA and well below the 200 EMA, which heads marginally lower at around 1.2820, while technical indicators have lost the positive momentum and now hover around their midlines. All of these is not enough to confirm an upcoming decline, yet skews the risk to the downside, also headed in this direction from the fundamental front. The pair has a relevant intraday low at 1.2591, now the immediate support, en route to a retest of the yearly low of 1.2476."

 Support levels: 1.2590 1.2555 1.2510

Resistance levels: 1.2665 1.2700 1.2745

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD hovers around 1.0700 ahead of German IFO survey

EUR/USD hovers around 1.0700 ahead of German IFO survey

EUR/USD is consolidating recovery gains at around 1.0700 in the European morning on Wednesday. The pair stays afloat amid strong Eurozone business activity data against cooling US manufacturing and services sectors. Germany's IFO survey is next in focus. 

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD steadies near 1.2450, awaits mid-tier US data

GBP/USD steadies near 1.2450, awaits mid-tier US data

GBP/USD is keeping its range at around 1.2450 in European trading on Wednesday. A broadly muted US Dollar combined with a risk-on market mood lend support to the pair, as traders await the mid-tier US Durable Goods data for further trading directives. 

GBP/USD News

Gold: Defending $2,318 support is critical for XAU/USD

Gold: Defending $2,318 support is critical for XAU/USD

Gold price is nursing losses while holding above $2,300 early Wednesday, stalling its two-day decline, as traders look forward to the mid-tier US economic data for fresh cues on the US Federal Reserve interest rates outlook.

Gold News

Crypto community reacts as BRICS considers launching stablecoin for international trade settlement

Crypto community reacts as BRICS considers launching stablecoin for international trade settlement

BRICS is intensifying efforts to reduce its reliance on the US dollar after plans for its stablecoin effort surfaced online on Tuesday. 

Read more

Three fundamentals for the week: US GDP, BoJ and the Fed's favorite inflation gauge stand out Premium

Three fundamentals for the week: US GDP, BoJ and the Fed's favorite inflation gauge stand out

While it is hard to predict when geopolitical news erupts, the level of tension is lower – allowing for key data to have its say. This week's US figures are set to shape the Federal Reserve's decision next week – and the Bank of Japan may struggle to halt the Yen's deterioration. 

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures