Abstract:GBPUSD continues to extend its retracement higher with the British Pound pushing higher as UK Parliament moves closer toward preventing no-deal Brexit.
BREXIT LATEST: BRITISH POUND JUMPS AS UK PARLIAMENT VOTE TO BLOCK NO-DEAL
GBPUSD has skyrocketed over 200 pips off multi-year lows as British MPs pass the latest Brexit vote aiming to prevent the UKs no-deal departure
The Pound Sterling may continue to claw back recent downside as no-deal Brexit risk fades following Parliaments passage of the latest Brexit delay bill
Check out what IG Client Sentiment data suggests about spot GBPUSD retail trader positioning
During Tuesday‘s trading session, we highlighted how the Pound Sterling was set to climb amid UK Parliament passing critical Brexit votes as British MPs seek to prevent departing the EU without a deal on the October 31 Brexit deadline. The retracement higher in spot GBPUSD began after news broke out yesterday that Conservative PM Boris Johnson lost his majority following the defection of prior-Tory MP Phillip Lee. British Pound upward momentum continued following reports MPs passed legislation to control Parliament’s agenda and prevent PM Boris Johnson sending the House of Commons on recess
GBPUSD PRICE CHART: 1-HOUR TIME FRAME (AUGUST 30, 2019 TO SEPTEMBER 04, 2019)
Turning to today, spot GBPUSD price action has continued its ascent and now trades over 200 pips higher since plunging below the 1.2000 handle earlier this week. Extended gains for the Pound Sterling comes amid reports that the most recent Brexit vote passed Parliament 327-299 which calls on the Conservative government to request from the EU another extension to Article 50 (i.e. delay Brexit again).
Check out our Brexit Timeline for details on how Brexit negotiations have impacted the UK, Pound Sterling and financial markets.
Yet, PM Boris Johnson has adamantly voiced his opposition to delaying Brexit again and promised to sever the UK from the EU on the October 31 deadline – regardless whether or not a Brexit Withdrawal Agreement deal can be successfully brokered. Also, in response to today‘s Brexit vote passing Parliament, PM Boris Johnson has proposed calling for a general election on October 15. Now, markets await to find out the results of tonight’s vote in Parliament,which is scheduled for 9:30 PM local UK time, on whether or not MPs will back a general election.
While the “Brexit can-kicking” may help the Pound Sterling recover from recent multi-year lows, the rise in spot GBPUSD may prove to be short-lived considering the ongoing Brexit impasse remains largely unresolved. As such, keeping close tabs on British Pound implied volatility in light of its inverse relationship to Sterling spot prices may prove beneficial as the latest Brexit developments unfold.
JPY strengthened against the USD, pushing USD/JPY near 145.00, driven by strong inflation data and BoJ rate hike expectations. Japan's strong Q2 GDP growth added support. However, USD gains may be limited by expectations of a Fed rate cut in September.
Gold prices remain above $2,500, near record highs, as investors await the Federal Open Market Committee minutes for confirmation of a potential Fed rate cut in September. The Fed's dovish shift, prioritizing employment over inflation, has weakened the US Dollar, boosting gold. A recent revision showing the US created 818,000 fewer jobs than initially reported also strengthens the case for a rate cut.
USD/JPY holds near 145.50, recovering from 144.95 lows. The Yen strengthens on strong GDP, boosting rate hike expectations for the Bank of Japan. However, gains may be limited by potential US Fed rate cuts in September.
Gold prices remain near record highs, driven by expectations of a US interest rate cut and a weakening US Dollar. Investors are focusing on the upcoming Jackson Hole Symposium, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech will be closely watched for clues on the Fed's stance. Additionally, the release of US manufacturing data (PMIs) is expected to influence gold's direction.