Yesterday’s trade saw GBP/USD within the range of 1.5612-1.5785. The pair closed at 1.5748, gaining 0.71% on a daily basis.
At 7:47 GMT today GBP/USD was down 0.19% for the day to trade at 1.5715. The pair touched a daily low at 1.5711.
Fundamentals
United Kingdom
Bank of England Minutes
At 9:30 GMT Bank of England is to publish the minutes from its most recent meeting on policy. Released two weeks after the meeting itself, the minutes provide a full account of the policy discussion, including differences of view. They also record the votes of the individual members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). On December 4th 7 members of the Committee probably voted in favor of keeping the benchmark interest rate unchanged, while 2 members probably supported a rate hike. In addition, all 9 members of the Committee probably voted to keep the stock of purchased assets financed by the issuance of central bank reserves unchanged at £375 billion. In case the central bank demonstrates a hawkish view in regard to inflation pressure and overall economic activity in the UK, this heightens the probability of an interest rate hike, which has a positive effect on the pound. A dovish view, on the other hand, will have the opposite effect.
Claimant count change, Unemployment rate by the ILO
The number of jobless claims in the United Kingdom probably dropped by 20 000 in November, marking the 26th consecutive month of declines, according to expectations, following another drop by 20 400 in October. At the same time, the claimant count rate, which represents the percentage change of jobless claims compared to the entire work force, probably fell to 2.7% in November from 2.8% during the previous month.
The rate of unemployment in the UK, estimated in accordance with ILO (International Labour Organization) standards, probably remained steady at 6.0% during the three months to October compared to the same period a year ago. If so, this would be the third consecutive period, during which the jobless rate stood at that level, and also the lowest rate since October 2008.
During the period July-September there were 30.79 million people in employment, or an increase by 112 000 compared to the period April-June and also 694 000 more compared to July-September a year earlier. There were 22.52 million people in full-time employment, or 589 000 more compared to the same period a year earlier, while 8.27 million people were working part-time during the three months to September, an increase by 105 000 compared to a year earlier. During the period July-September 1.96 million people were unemployed, or 115 000 fewer than in the period April to June and 529 000 fewer compared to July-September 2013.
In July to September there were 9.03 million people aged between 16 and 64, who were out of work and not seeking or available for employment, according to data by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This represented an increase by 38 000 in comparison with the period April to June, but was also a fall by 16 000 compared to July-September last year.
The rate of unemployment refers to the percentage of economically active people, who are currently unemployed. According to the ILO approach, people who are considered as unemployed are either: 1) out of work, but are actively searching for employment, or 2) out of work and are waiting to be hired again during the next two weeks.
The ILO Unemployment Rate is based on a monthly survey, known as the Labour Force Survey in the United Kingdom, with approximately 40 000 individuals being interviewed every month. This indicator reflects overall economic state in the country, as there is a strong correlation between consumer spending levels and labor market conditions. Low rates of unemployment are accompanied by higher spending, which causes a favorable effect on corporate profits and also accelerates overall growth. In case the rate of unemployment fell more than projected, this would certainly have a bullish effect on the sterling. The official report by the ONS is due out at 9:30 GMT.
United States
Consumer inflation
The annualized consumer inflation in the United States probably decelerated to 1.4% in November, according to market expectations, from 1.7%, registered in October, September and August. If so, this would be the lowest rate since February, when an inflation of 1.1% was reported. In monthly terms, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) probably dipped 0.1% in November, after remaining flat in the prior month. In October energy prices dropped 1.6% year-on-year, as cost of gasoline and fuel oil fell 5% and 6.5% respectively. Food prices rose at an annualized rate of 3.1%. The index for all items less food and energy went up 1.8% in October, following a 1.7% rise in the previous month. Cost of services less energy was up 2.5%, as shelter and transportation index gained 3% and 1.8% respectively, according to the report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The CPI is based on a basket of goods and services bought and used by consumers on a daily basis. In the United States the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys the prices of 80 000 consumer items in order to calculate the index. The latter reflects prices of commonly purchased items by primarily urban households, which represent about 87% of the US population. The Bureau processes price data from 23 000 retail and service businesses.
The CPI includes sales taxes, but excludes income taxes, costs of investments such as stocks and bonds and sales prices of homes.
The annualized core consumer inflation, which is stripped of prices of food and energy, probably remained steady at 1.8% in November. It is usually reported as a seasonally adjusted figure, because consumer patterns are widely fluctuating in dependance on the time of the year. The Core CPI is a key measure, because this is the gauge, which the Federal Reserve Bank takes into account in order to adjust its monetary policy. The Fed uses the core CPI, because prices of food, oil and gas are highly volatile and the central bank’s tools are slow-acting. In case, for example, prices of gas surge considerably, this could lead to a high rate of inflation, but the central bank will not take action until this increase affects prices of other goods and services.
If the CPI tends to approach or comes in line with the inflation objective, set by the Federal Reserve and considered as providing price stability, or 2%, this will usually support demand for the US dollar. However, quite high rates of inflation (well above central bank’s inflation target) can be harmful to economy and as a result, this may lead to the loss of confidence in the local currency.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is to release the official CPI report at 13:30 GMT.
FOMC Economic Projections
At 18:00 GMT the Federal Reserve Bank is to release its Economic Projections report, containing inflation and economic growth forecasts in regard to the upcoming two years. The report also includes a breakdown of every FOMC members interest rate projection.
FOMC policy decision
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will probably keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged within the range 0%-0.25% for a 47th consecutive meeting, after the end of the Quantitative Easing cycle, according to the median forecast by experts.
The minutes of Federal Open Market Committee meeting, conducted in October, revealed that policymakers expressed concerns over a possible downward shift in longer-term inflation expectations. According to extracts from the minutes: ”In their discussion of the economic situation and the outlook, most meeting participants viewed the information received over the intermeeting period as suggesting that economic activity continued to expand at a moderate pace. Labor market conditions improved somewhat further, with solid job gains and a lower unemployment rate; on balance, participants judged that the underutilization of labor resources was gradually diminishing.”
“Inflation was continuing to run below the Committees longer-run objective. Market-based measures of inflation compensation declined somewhat, while survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations remained stable. Participants anticipated that inflation would be held down over the near term by the decline in energy prices and other factors, but would move toward the Committees 2 percent goal in coming years, although a few expressed concern that inflation might persist below the Committees objective for quite some time.”
”Most participants anticipated that inflation was likely to edge lower in the near term, reflecting the decline in oil and other commodity prices and lower import prices. These participants continued to expect inflation to move back to the Committees 2 percent target over the medium term as resource slack diminished in an environment of well-anchored inflation expectations, although a few of them thought the return to 2 percent might be quite gradual.”
”All but one member agreed that the Committee should reiterate the expectation that it likely would be appropriate to maintain the current target range for the federal funds rate for a considerable time following the end of the asset purchase program in October, especially if projected inflation continued to run below the Committees 2 percent longer-run goal, and provided that longer-term inflation expectations remained well anchored.”
The Fed has indicated that a rate hike may be introduced sooner than anticipated, in case inflation and employment outlook in the US continue to improve.
The FOMC will announce its official decision on policy at 19:00 GMT.
At 19:30 GMT Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to take a statement at a press conference regarding monetary policy. Her tone will certainly influence greenbacks volatility, as a more hawkish tone will provide support, while a more dovish tone will lead to a sell-off.
Pivot Points
According to Binary Tribune’s daily analysis, the central pivot point for the pair is at 1.5715. In case GBP/USD manages to breach the first resistance level at 1.5818, it will probably continue up to test 1.5888. In case the second key resistance is broken, the pair will probably attempt to advance to 1.5991.
If GBP/USD manages to breach the first key support at 1.5645, it will probably continue to slide and test 1.5542. With this second key support broken, the movement to the downside will probably continue to 1.5472.
The mid-Pivot levels for today are as follows: M1 – 1.5507, M2 – 1.5594, M3 – 1.5680, M4 – 1.5767, M5 – 1.5853, M6 – 1.5940.
In weekly terms, the central pivot point is at 1.5672. The three key resistance levels are as follows: R1 – 1.5806, R2 – 1.5891, R3 – 1.6025. The three key support levels are: S1 – 1.5587, S2 – 1.5453, S3 – 1.5368.
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