Yesterday’s trade saw GBP/USD within the range of 1.5339-1.5483. The daily high has also been the highest level since January 2nd, when a high of 1.5587 was recorded. The pair closed at 1.5435, gaining 0.53% on a daily basis.
At 7:43 GMT today GBP/USD was up 0.10% for the day to trade at 1.5451. The pair touched a daily high at 1.5466 at 7:15 GMT.
Fundamentals
United Kingdom
The gauge of industrial orders in the United Kingdom probably improved to a reading of 6 during the three months to February, according to expectations, from 4 in the previous period. If so, this would be the highest reading since the period to August 2014, when a value of 11 was reported. This indicator reflects the net balance between companies, that registered an increase in industrial orders during the respective period of three months and those, that registered a drop. It is the oldest indicator, released from the UK private sector, to show the development tendency in the countrys industry. The Industrial Trends Survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) provides expert qualitative opinion from senior manufacturing executives, on past and expected trends in output, exports, prices, costs, investment intentions, business confidence and capacity utilization. A level above zero suggests that volume of orders is projected to increase, while a level below zero indicates that expectations point to lower volumes. If the survey showed predominant optimism, this would have a limited bullish effect on the sterling. The CBI will announce the results from its survey, encompassing 17 industries, at 11:00 GMT.
United States
Initial, Continuing Jobless Claims
The number of people in the United States, who filed for unemployment assistance for the first time during the week ended on February 13th, probably decreased to 295 000 from 304 000 in the prior week. The latter has been the highest level since the week ended on January 16th. The 4-week moving average, an indicator lacking seasonal effects, was 289 750, marking a decrease of 3 250 from the previous weeks revised up average of 293 000.
Initial jobless claims number is a short-term indicator, reflecting lay-offs in the country. In case the number of claims fell more than projected, this would have a bullish effect on the greenback.
The number of continuing jobless claims probably rose to the seasonally adjusted 2 375 000 during the week ended on February 6th, from 2 354 000 in the previous week. This figure has been the lowest since the week ended on December 19th 2014, when 2 351 000 claims were reported. The figure also represented a decrease by 51 000 compared to the revised up number of claims, reported during the week ended on January 23rd. This indicator represents the actual number of people unemployed and currently receiving unemployment benefits, who filed for unemployment assistance at least two weeks ago.
The Department of Labor is to release the weekly report at 13:30 GMT.
Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index
The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index probably increased to a reading of 9.3 in February from 6.3 index points during the previous month. The index is based on a monthly business survey (the Business Outlook Survey), measuring manufacturing activity in the third district of the Federal Reserve, Philadelphia. Participants give their opinion about the direction of business changes in overall economy and different indicators of activity in their companies, such as employment, working hours, new and existing orders, deliveries, inventories, delivery time, price etc. The survey is conducted every month since May 1968. The results are presented as the difference between the percentages of positive and negative projections. A level above zero is indicative of improving conditions, while a level below zero is indicative of worsening conditions. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is expected to release the official results from the survey at 15:00 GMT. Higher-than-expected index readings would have a bullish effect on the greenback.
Pivot Points
According to Binary Tribune’s daily analysis, the central pivot point for the pair is at 1.5419. In case GBP/USD manages to breach the first resistance level at 1.5499, it will probably continue up to test 1.5563. In case the second key resistance is broken, the pair will probably attempt to advance to 1.5643.
If GBP/USD manages to breach the first key support at 1.5355, it will probably continue to slide and test 1.5275. With this second key support broken, the movement to the downside will probably continue to 1.5211.
The mid-Pivot levels for today are as follows: M1 – 1.5243, M2 – 1.5315, M3 – 1.5387, M4 – 1.5459, M5 – 1.5531, M6 – 1.5603.
In weekly terms, the central pivot point is at 1.5340. The three key resistance levels are as follows: R1 – 1.5484, R2 – 1.5570, R3 – 1.5714. The three key support levels are: S1 – 1.5254, S2 – 1.5110, S3 – 1.5024.
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