It’s Super Thursday at the Bank of England, which means we get a rate decision along with the Quarterly Inflation Report and comments from BoE Governor Mark Carney. Today’s meeting is the most important event this week and sterling traders prepare for volatile swings around the monetary policy announcement. The big question among market participants is how hawkish the BoE might be towards the end of this year. The market is fully pricing-in a rate increase at the BoE’s Super Thursday in November while market participants see a 50/50 chance of an earlier rate hike in May. If evidence points to a rate rise in May, the pound will rally and may find its way back to 1.42. However, if the tone in today’s statement is not as hawkish as traders are hoping, the pound will fall.
The focus will also be on the inflation report and if economic growth and inflation forecasts are revised higher, GBP/USD could recover some of its recent losses.
There is also the possibility of a muted response following today’s statement. Brexit risks continue to cause uncertainty about the outlook and if those risks have not changed substantially, the market’s reaction to the statement could be muted.
We will know more today at 12:00 UTC.
GBP/USD: The cable found some support around 1.3850 and if this barrier is breached to the downside we expect further losses towards 1.3750. For bullish momentum to accelerate, it would, however, need a sustained break above 1.40.
EUR/USD: The euro broke out of its recent sideways trend channel and fell towards 1.2240. The break below 1.23 came despite Angela Merkel’s deal with the SPD to form a great coalition in Germany. Technically speaking, the chances are now in favor of further downside potential driving the pair towards 1.2220 and 1.2170. If the euro rises back above 1.2350, bulls may take over control.
Here are our daily signal alerts:
EUR/USD
Long at 1.2290 SL 25 TP 20, 50
Short at 1.2240 SL 25 TP 30-40
GBP/USD
Long at 1.3920 SL 25 TP 30, 70
Short at 1.3865 SL 25 TP 20, 100
We wish you good trades and many pips!
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