GBP/USD Sticks To Modest Gains Above Mid-1.2000s, Lacks Bullish Conviction

The GBP/USD pair attracts some dip-buying near the 1.2040-1.2035 area on Thursday and reverses a part of the previous day’s downfall. The pair stick to its modest intraday gains through the early European session and is currently placed near the top end of the daily range, around the 1.2065-1.2070 region, through lacks bullish conviction. Rising bets for additional interest rate hikes by the Bank of England (BoE) are a tailwind for the British Pound.

This and a modest US Dollar pullback from a multi-week high lend some support to the GBP/USD pair. A slight improvement in the global risk sentiment – as depicted by a generally upbeat tone around the equity markets – undermines the safe-haven buck. That said, combining factors should help limit more profound losses for the Greenback and cap the upside for the major.

Investors remain worried about economic headwinds stemming from rapidly rising borrowing costs. This and geopolitical tensions should keep a lid on any optimism in the markets. Apart from this, growing acceptance that the Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates to tame persistently high inflation favours the USD bulls.

The FOMC meeting minutes released on Wednesday showed that a few participants favoured raising rates by 50 bps or could have supported it. Moreover, the US CPI and PPI data released last week showed that inflation isn’t coming down as fast as hoped. The recent robust US macro data pointed to an economy that remains resilient despite rising borrowing costs and should allow the Fed to stick to its hawkish stance.

Without relevant UK economic data, the fundamental backdrop makes it prudent to wait for a strong follow-through buying around the GBP/USD pair before positioning for a further intraday appreciating move.

Traders now look to the US economic docket, featuring the release of the Prelim (second estimate) Q4 GDP print and the usual Weekly Initial Jobless Claims later during the early North American session. This and the broader risk sentiment will influence the USD price dynamics and provide some impetus to the GBP/USD pair.