Select Language

GBP/USD finds uneasy gains ahead of US government shutdown

Breaking news

GBP/USD finds uneasy gains ahead of US government shutdown

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
New update 2025.10.01 07:31
GBP/USD finds uneasy gains ahead of US government shutdown

update 2025.10.01 07:31

  • GBP/USD gained a slight edge on Tuesday, creeping into a third straight bullish session.
  • Market reactions remain limited for the time being, but investors are keenly watching as the US government heads into a shutdown.
  • This week's NFP jobs report is set to be canceled or delayed.

GBP/USD caught a slight lift on Tuesday, creeping into the 1.3450 region and tilting into a third straight bullish session. United Kingdom (UK) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures beat expectations, bolstering the Pound Sterling (GBP), while US Dollar (USD) flows hunkered in place as investors brace for the US government's latest funding crisis shutdown.

UK GDP accelerated to 1.4% YoY in Q2, rising above the expected hold at 1.2%. GBP flows tilted bullish afterward, but FX market flows have broadly drawn down ahead of the US government shutdown, which was confirmed after Congress retired early on Tuesday, forcing the US federal government to cross the fiscal year rollover on October 1 without a functioning government budget plan.

Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) figures from the US are due on Wednesday, as well as the latest ADP Employment Change data for September. The Chicago Advance PMI contracted sharply, casting fresh doubt on the median market forecast for Wednesday's ISM PMI print, which is expected to tick up to 49.0 from 48.7.

ADP Employment Change is expected to shift slightly lower, falling to 50K from the previous 54K. ADP jobs data has a tenuous-at-best relationship with Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data, but investors lacking access to trustworthy government data will have little choice but to tilt further into the ADP figures this week.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has already announced that they will be canceling or delaying the latest NFP jobs numbers if the US government shuts down. NFP, which was scheduled to release this Friday, has become a large question mark for markets.

GBP/USD price forecast

A third straight bullish day on the Cable chart has pushed GBP/USD bidsa into an uneasy middle ground between key moving averages. Bullish price action is facing a sharp slowing in momentum just below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near 1.3480. On the bottom end, the 200-day EMA is providing a firm technical floor from the 1.3250 region.

GBP/USD daily chart


Pound Sterling FAQs

The Pound Sterling (GBP) is the oldest currency in the world (886 AD) and the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the fourth most traded unit for foreign exchange (FX) in the world, accounting for 12% of all transactions, averaging $630 billion a day, according to 2022 data. Its key trading pairs are GBP/USD, also known as 'Cable', which accounts for 11% of FX, GBP/JPY, or the 'Dragon' as it is known by traders (3%), and EUR/GBP (2%). The Pound Sterling is issued by the Bank of England (BoE).

The single most important factor influencing the value of the Pound Sterling is monetary policy decided by the Bank of England. The BoE bases its decisions on whether it has achieved its primary goal of "price stability" - a steady inflation rate of around 2%. Its primary tool for achieving this is the adjustment of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the BoE will try to rein it in by raising interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to access credit. This is generally positive for GBP, as higher interest rates make the UK a more attractive place for global investors to park their money. When inflation falls too low it is a sign economic growth is slowing. In this scenario, the BoE will consider lowering interest rates to cheapen credit so businesses will borrow more to invest in growth-generating projects.

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact the value of the Pound Sterling. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, and employment can all influence the direction of the GBP. A strong economy is good for Sterling. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the BoE to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen GBP. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Pound Sterling is likely to fall.

Another significant data release for the Pound Sterling is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought-after exports, its currency will benefit purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.


Date

Created

 : 2025.10.01

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.10.01

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

USD/CHF Price Forecast: Holds 0.7939 support, eyes 0.8000 recovery

The USD/CHF consolidates at around the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 0.7955 down 0.05% as Wednesday's Asian Pacific session begins. The technical picture shows that the pair might bottom at around current levels, despite refreshing yearly lows in mid-September at 0.7829.
New
update2025.10.01 08:16

EUR/USD steadies as shutdown fears weigh on Dollar

EUR/USD holds firm on Tuesday during the North American session, although the Dollar weakens due to fears of a possible government shutdown that could disrupt the release of crucial jobs data for Fed officials. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.1735 up a modest 0.05%.
New
update2025.10.01 07:56

GBP/USD finds uneasy gains ahead of US government shutdown

GBP/USD caught a slight lift on Tuesday, creeping into the 1.3450 region and tilting into a third straight bullish session.
New
update2025.10.01 07:30

Gold advances as shutdown looms, weak US data fuels rate cut bets

Gold climbs during the North American session on Tuesday yet remains below the record high hit in the Asian session of $3,871. Amid fears of a US government shutdown, jobs data reaffirmed expectations of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed). XAU/USD trades at $3,846, up 0.35%.
New
update2025.10.01 04:29

Canadian Dollar middles as investor sentiment slows to a crawl

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) held mostly in place on Tuesday, with market flows broadly drawing down as the US government careens into a funding shutdown.
New
update2025.10.01 04:09

Fed's Collins warns that rate cuts will follow, but only if the economy meets expectations

Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Boston President Susan Collins warned that the Fed could have room to continue interest rate cuts, but only if economic conditions remain on-balance.
New
update2025.10.01 03:59

Fed's Goolsbee says short government shutdowns are okay

Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee noted on Tuesday that "short" government shutdowns tend to have a limited impact on the broader economy. The statements come at a time when the US government is barreling into a funding gap and subsequent shutdown.
New
update2025.10.01 03:48

USD/JPY slides as US shutdown fears boost Yen's safe-haven appeal

The Japanese Yen (JPY) gains traction against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday, with USD/JPY extending losses for a third straight day as the looming United States (US) government shutdown weighs on the Greenback and bolsters safe-haven demand for the Yen.
New
update2025.10.01 03:36

Dow Jones Industrial Average slow bleeds as government shutdown looms

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) saw a slow bleed on Tuesday, shedding around 150 points as investors braced ahead of what is likely to be a federal government shutdown.
New
update2025.10.01 02:46

FX Today: Focus shifts to inflation in Europe and US ADP, ISM data

Steady jitters around a potential US government shutdown kept the US Dollar under pressure on Tuesday, adding to the ongoing multi-day weakness hurting the currency. In addition, prospects for extra rate cuts by the Federal Reserve also collaborated with the bearish price action.
New
update2025.10.01 02:46

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel