GBP/USD sinks as US shutdown sparks risk aversion, Dollar strengthens

• GBP/USD drops as traders turn risk averse as government shutdown delays key US data.
• Dallas Fed's Logan warns inflation remains above target, endorses moderately restrictive policy despite softer labor signals.
• UK outlook pressured by persistently high inflation and Reeves' Autumn Budget.

GBP/USD dives during the North American session as the US government shutdown extends for the second straight day, triggering a delay on economic data releases. Meanwhile, the buck strengthens as traders assess the shutdown impact. The pair trades at 1.3424, down 0.38%.

Sterling drops to 1.3424 amid lack of US data, hawkish Fed remarks, and looming UK fiscal concerns

The mood of the financial markets changed and turned risk averse as traders began to trade "blindly" without crucial economic data from the US. in the meantime, the Challenger Job Cuts for September showed that companies announced plans to fire 54,064K people, less than August's 85.979K.

Andy Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said "Right now, we're dealing with a stagnating labor market, cost increases, and a trans-formative new technology."

Aside from this, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan was hawkish as she said that inflation is running above target and trending higher. She recognized that risks on both sides of the mandate, said that the jobs market appears fairly balanced but slowing, adding that the economy remains resilient. Regarding monetary policy, she said it is moderately restrictive, appropriate for now as tariffs contributed to the recent jump in inflation.

Across the pond, investors are waiting for UK's Autumn Budget, which is due in eight weeks. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves would try to stay on course for her fiscal targets, and it is expected that she will raise rates again.

The docket revealed that the Bank of England (BoE) Decision Maker Panel (DMP) revealed that companies expect one year inflation to rise to 3.7%.

BoE Catherine Mann commented that inflation rate in the UK became persistently high, though she did not disregard that further rate cuts were completely off the table.

GBP/USD Price Forecast: Technical outlook

The GBP/USD is forming a 'bearish engulfing' candle chart pattern, a hint that sellers are outweighing buyers. However, a daily close below October 1 low of 1.3434 is needed, to confirm the pattern.

If achieved, GBP/USD key support levels would be 1.3400, the September 25 low of 1.3323 and the 1.3300 figure. Otherwise, look for buyers to push prices above the 50-day SMA at 1.3459, eyeing a test of the 100-day SMA at 1.3491 and the 20-day SMA at 1.3504.