GBP/USD holds near one-month highs in 1.2600s pre-US Core PCE data release

GBP/USD has pared back from earlier highs but remains in the green and supported above 1.2600 pre-US Core PCE data.

The pair was nonetheless able to hit monthly highs earlier in the day, with some citing UK fiscal stimulus optimism.

Though the pair has now handed back most of the gains it made during the Asia Pacific session, GBP/USD continues to trade slightly in the green and supported to the north of the 1.2600 level on Friday. FX market conditions have been fairly subdued in recent hours ahead of the release of key US Core PCE inflation data for April that, if it shows an easing of price pressures, could contribute to a continuation of recent USD weakening if it contributes to the “inflation has peaked” narrative and thus triggers a further paring back on Fed tightening bets.

Indeed, USD weakness (the DXY is on course for a second successive weekly loss, the worst losing streak since December 2021) has been the key driver behind cable’s more than 3.5% rally from earlier monthly lows in the mid-1.2100s to fresh monthly highs this Friday. But analysts have also attributed a few domestic UK factors as lending support to the rebound. Firstly, last week’s UK labour market data was strong, while the April inflation figures showed price pressures at their worst in four decades, giving a marginal boost to BoE tightening bets at the time.

Meanwhile, the UK government surprised markets on Thursday with a new, larger than expected fiscal aid package of £15 billion, aimed at helping low-income households cope with the current cost-of-living squeeze. Some analysts said that this larger than expected injection of fiscal stimulus (which will be spread over the summer and autumn) might encourage the BoE to revise higher its very pessimistic UK growth forecasts for this year and next.

A less pessimistic growth outlook means that the BoE might feel more confident that it can get away with slightly more monetary tightening in order to ensure inflation expectations don’t de-anchor. Still, FX strategists continue to warn that the UK growth outlook remains far weaker than in the US, meaning the outlook for BoE policy is far less hawkish than the outlook at the Fed. That mean, in the medium-longer term, a sustained rebound for GBP/USD doesn’t look likely. If Brexit tensions surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol further worsen, that only could the pair’s outlook.

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European Stocks Lower; Russian Gas Move, Bank Earnings in Focus

European stock markets traded largely lower Wednesday, as investors digested ramped up geopolitical tensions, a troubled global growth outlook as well as mixed quarterly corporate earnings.

By 4:05 AM ET (0805 GMT), the DAX in Germany traded 0.3% lower, the CAC 40 in France fell 0.1%, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.2%.

Tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict were heightened Wednesday after Gazprom, Russia's state-owned energy giant, confirmed that it has stopped supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. 

It's the first time that Russia has interrupted supplies to EU members in over 40 years of shipping natural gas, caused crude prices to rise and increased concerns about Europe’s energy security.

Russia is demanding payments for its gas in rubles as sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine bite, something that most western countries are not prepared to comply with as that could undermine the sanctions.

By 4:05 AM ET, U.S. crude futures traded 0.2% higher at $101.86 a barrel, while the Brent contract rose 0.2% to $104.84. Both benchmarks gained around 3% on Tuesday.

European equity indices have also been pressured by worries that China’s insistence on stringent COVID restrictions will harm domestic and global growth as well as the hawkish pivot from the Federal Reserve potentially slowing growth at the world’s largest economy.

These factors resulted in consumer confidence in the euro area’s two biggest economies falling more than anticipated. In Germany, data dropped to an all-time low, while French figures declined to the lowest since 2018.

It’s a big day for earnings in Europe, with the banking sector once more to the fore.

Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) stock slumped 5.6% after the German lender warned that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could hurt full-year results, saying its funds set aside for credit losses are expected to increase "significantly" this year.

Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) stock fell 1.6% after the Swiss bank posted a first-quarter loss along with another set of top management departures. 

By contrast, Lloyds (LON:LLOY) stock rose 2.4% after the U.K. lender lifted its full-year outlook with demand for mortgages holding up even as it warned of the dangers to the British economy from higher inflation. 

Elsewhere, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) stock rose 0.7% after the pharmaceuticals giant beat expectations for its first-quarter results, helped by buoyant sales of its COVID-19 treatment.

Mercedes Benz Group (OTC:DDAIF) stock rose 1.4% after the carmaker confirmed its guidance for the full-year with high prices making up for supply chain troubles, Telia (ST:TELIA) stock advanced 1.1% after the Swedish telecoms operator posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings, and DSV (CSE:DSV) stock climbed 2.7% after the Danish transport company raised its 2022 outlook.

There were also significant earnings after Tuesday’s close on Wall Street, with Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) reporting first-quarter revenue below expectations, while software giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) forecast double-digit revenue growth for its next fiscal year.

There are more significant U.S. earnings releases Wednesday from companies such as Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:FB), T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS), and Boeing (NYSE:BA).

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 Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD treads water around $1,930, in search of fresh direction

• Gold price is keeping its weekly range trade intact around $1,930.
• US dollar, yields capitalize on increased bets of a 50-bps May Fed rate hike.
• Gold Price Forecast: Will XAU/USD close the week above critical 21-DMA at $1,935?

Gold price is flatlined while trading within the mid of this week’s range around $1,930 so far this Friday. The market sentiment has somewhat improved in European trading, which has triggered a pullback in the US dollar and the Treasury yields. Although the underlying concerns over the aggressive Fed’s tightening and the Western sanctions on Russia are likely to keep the dollar bulls hopeful amid a data-light US docket. The Fed commentary continued to back the case for a 50-bps rate hike in the May meeting, dulling the demand for the non-interest-bearing gold price. The bulls need a decisive close above the 21-Daily Moving Average (DMA) at $1,935 to kick start a fresh uptrend. Attention now turns towards the critical US inflation data due next week. Meanwhile, the sentiment around the dollar and yields will continue to have a significant impact on the bright metal.

Gold (XAU/USD) has tumbled below its principal cushion of $1,930.00 as the market participants are raising bets on settlement of the US dollar index (DXY) above the crucial resistance of 100.00. The precious metal is falling gradually in the Asian session after a mildly positive start on Friday.

The discussions over pushing the interest rate to its mean reversion by the Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers are underpinning the greenback against the yellow metal. A preliminary estimate of the yearly US Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 6.6%, which will release next week, is dictating the story of soaring inflation. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members have narrated the neutral rate at 2.4% at which demand will not dampen and growth will not de-escalate. To shift the current interest rates to the neutral rate, the Fed has already announced one or more interest rate hikes by 50 basis points (bps) out of the six interest rate hikes to be announced this year.

The DXY is trading around 100.00, seeking a trigger that will drive the asset higher. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury yields are trading at 2.66%, at the press time and are looking to extend gains by overstepping a three-year high at 2.67%.

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