GBP/JPY pumps the brakes, extends into a two day backslide

• GBP/JPY explored the downside on Tuesday as GBP faith withers.
• The Pound Sterling lost market support after UK growth figures missed the mark.
• UK Retail Sales are due on Friday, lofty forecasts might set Guppy up for failure.

GBP/JPY pivoted back into the low end on Tuesday, extending into a second day of losses after UK economic growth and activity figures pummeled the Pound Sterling, and GBP traders will be shuffling their feet ahead of Friday's UK Retail Sales figures for December.

UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rebounded in November, but missed median market forecasts to print at a thin 0.1% MoM, down from the expected 0.2% and climbing only moderately from the previous -0.1% contraction. UK Industrial Production barely moved the needle in November, contracting by -0.4% and entirely missing the forecast upswing to 0.1% compared to the previous month's -0.6% backslide.

UK Retail Sales figures for December are due early during Friday's London market session, and are expected to rebound to 0.4% from November's 0.2% figure. On an annualized basis, Retail Sales are forecast to rally to 4.2% from the previous 0.5%, a lofty median target to set for an economic zone that has routinely missed market expectations in recent months.

GBP/JPY price forecast

The Guppy has been trapped in a back-and-forth pattern on the charts as monthly closes trade blows across the bulls and the bears. GBP/JPY is poised for a third straight week of firm declines, and the pair is set to get hung up on familiar technical support zones conglomerating around the 190.00 major price handle.

GBP/JPY daily chart