FreshForexTeam

GBPUSD:

A month without swaps on majors!

The pound starts the session in a mixed internal context after statements from Bank of England representatives. Andrew Bailey emphasized that a new rate hike is not predetermined, while Dave Ramsden described internal inflationary pressures as relatively moderate. These signals are capping the pound, although expensive oil raises the risk of renewed inflation acceleration and limits room for policy easing.

Dollar weakness remains a more significant short-term factor. Its index fell to a nearly two-week low, and the market is awaiting Friday's US inflation data, which could alter the assessment of the Fed's September decision. With no clear bias toward a rate hike over a pause scenario, the dollar struggles to form a sustainable recovery against major currencies.

For GBPUSD, the local backdrop is less favorable than for the euro, making growth potential appear more limited. However, cautious signals from the Bank of England have not yet outweighed the broader dollar momentum, and rising energy prices reduce the likelihood of the British regulator quickly shifting to a more dovish policy. Under current conditions, moderate GBPUSD strengthening remains the priority.

Trading idea: BUY 1.3545, SL 1.3510, TP 1.3615

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Event to watch today:

17:00 EET. USD - Federal Reserve Board Chair Kevin Warsh will deliver a speech

EURUSD:

A month without swaps on majors!

The euro begins the European session near weekly lows as the market approaches Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's speech with heightened attention to inflation risks in the US. Several Fed officials recently reiterated the need to maintain a firm stance against price pressures, and the probability of a rate hike by year-end has increased. This supports the dollar and limits EURUSD recovery.

The local backdrop for the euro appears mixed. Market participants are awaiting fresh data on inflation and economic activity in France, which could adjust expectations for the ECB. However, until their release, the European currency lacks a new confirmed driver capable of outweighing the dollar's strength. Current ECB policy expectations provide some support for the euro, but they do not yet alter the overall balance of the current session.

The key factor remains the market's reaction to signals from the Fed at Jackson Hole. If Warsh confirms the priority of fighting inflation and does not soften rate expectations, demand for the dollar is likely to persist. A softer rhetoric would pose a risk to this scenario, but until such a signal appears, the basic fundamental backdrop favors further decline in EURUSD.

Trading idea: SELL 1.1650, SL 1.1680, TP 1.1575

Event to watch today:

15:30 EET. USD - Change in GDP quarter over quarter

USD​JPY:

The yen is receiving fresh fundamental support following an acceleration in inflation within Japan’s services sector. The Services Producer Price Index rose by 3.6% year on year in July, up from a revised 3.4% in June, strengthening the case for further interest rate increases by the Bank of Japan. This is important for USDJPY because expectations of faster policy tightening reduce part of the dollar’s previous interest-rate advantage.

A recent survey of economists showed a notable shift in expectations: the majority now see the possibility of the Bank of Japan raising its policy rate to 1.25% as early as September, while the market is close to fully pricing in such a move. The yen’s sensitivity is also supported by the recent joint intervention by Japan and the United States in the foreign exchange market, which keeps attention focused on excessive weakness in the Japanese currency.

There is currently no strong opposing impulse from the dollar. The US currency is trading in a narrow range ahead of the July Personal Consumption Expenditures price index and fresh Federal Reserve signals, while the latest Japanese data are strengthening expectations for the Bank of Japan. As a result, the base-case scenario allows for a decline in USDJPY if the current repricing of interest rate expectations continues.

Trading idea: SELL 159.05, SL 159.45, TP 158.15

GBPUSD:

The UK economy continues to show signs of resilience despite mixed data in recent days. The preliminary services PMI rose to a six-month high of 52.8 in August, while consumer confidence reached a two-year high. This reduces the risk of a sharp deterioration in domestic demand and provides support for the pound.

UK inflation accelerated to 2.9% in July, remaining above the Bank of England’s target. At the July meeting, three of the nine committee members had already voted for a rate increase, while the market continues to price in the possibility of tighter policy before the end of the year. A 0.5% decline in retail sales and an unexpected budget deficit are limiting factors for sterling, but they do not yet change the broader picture.

The external environment is also important for GBPUSD: the US dollar remains under pressure amid concerns over US debt policy and the expansion of long-term bond buybacks by the Treasury. Strong activity in the US services sector limits the scale of dollar weakness but does not change the main impulse of the current session. As long as UK data remain resilient, the growth scenario for GBPUSD retains the advantage.

Trading idea: BUY 1.3650, SL 1.3610, TP 1.3740