http://www.fxtimes.com Get your daily dose of Forex news from the expert analysts at FXTimes. Visitors will have access to the Forex Capsule, our interactive economic calendar, our video recaps, and up-to-date fundamental news releases and technical analysis commentaries. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbpusd-pushes-to-10-week-high-on-positive-uk-manufacturing-surprise/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbpusd-pushes-to-10-week-high-on-positive-uk-manufacturing-surprise/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:59:03 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65865 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbpusd-pushes-to-10-week-high-on-positive-uk-manufacturing-surprise/feed/ 0 The UK manufacturing PMI posted a reading of 52.1 in January, much better than the forecast of an increase to 50.2 from 49.6 in December. Today's data makes it more likely that the BOE will not take the most aggressive approach, and while we anticipate more QE, the amount announced may be smaller than what we saw back in October, which should be supportive of the GBP. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbp-crosses-to-be-sensitive-to-this-weeks-uk-data-stream/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbp-crosses-to-be-sensitive-to-this-weeks-uk-data-stream/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:32:10 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65683 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/gbp-crosses-to-be-sensitive-to-this-weeks-uk-data-stream/feed/ 0 This week, 3 fundamental releases will give us a good idea of the UK's economic performance in January, as we look at the latest manufacturing, services, and construction PMI's. These releases can either improve the GBP's fortune as recent week have seen rising unemployment and a contraction in growth for the 4th quarter. A string of positive releases - and the most timely ones - will be important to the outlook and prospect for the Bank of England. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/uk-economy-contracts-in-4q-boe-mixed-on-more-qe-gbpusd-ready-to-top-off/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/uk-economy-contracts-in-4q-boe-mixed-on-more-qe-gbpusd-ready-to-top-off/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:22:27 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65229 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/uk-economy-contracts-in-4q-boe-mixed-on-more-qe-gbpusd-ready-to-top-off/feed/ 0 With the possibility of a shallow recession on hand the Bank of England may feel pressed to expand its purchase of bonds in its quantitative easing program. Market participants' expectation is that the BOE will in fact increase the scope of its bond buying program, the main question then is by how much. The drop in GDP growth could reinforce those on the BOE that want more stimulus and that could mean that the recent rally in that GBP/USD may find some fundamental factors for a retracement. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/key-week-for-gbp-with-boe-minutes-4q-gdp/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/key-week-for-gbp-with-boe-minutes-4q-gdp/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:33:55 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=64955 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/key-week-for-gbp-with-boe-minutes-4q-gdp/feed/ 0 This week will be a key one for GBP as we have 2 very important fundamental risk events - the Bank of England meeting minutes as well as the advanced version of 4th quarter GDP. These two reports will likely determine the direction of the GBP for the next few weeks - until we get the BOE rate decision in early February. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/fridays-3-key-stories-fiscal-compact-uk-retail-sales-can-cpi/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/fridays-3-key-stories-fiscal-compact-uk-retail-sales-can-cpi/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:17:21 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=64666 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/fridays-3-key-stories-fiscal-compact-uk-retail-sales-can-cpi/feed/ 0 After weakening some of the provisions that would form the rules in the "Fiscal Compact" sought by Euro-zone and EU nations, some tougher elements were put back in. The blueprint is to be discussed early next week when EU finance ministers meet. In fundamental news, UK retail sales picked up in December, while Canada had a strong bout of disinflation. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-claimant-count-ready-to-push-gbpusd-lower/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-claimant-count-ready-to-push-gbpusd-lower/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:05:06 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=64370 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-claimant-count-ready-to-push-gbpusd-lower/feed/ 0 The claimant count change – the number of Britons claiming unemployment benefits after losing their jobs – is expected to rise by 7.0K in December, following a 3.0K climb in November. That would tell us that the labor market situation in the UK continues to show deterioration. A weaker than expected employment report can put pressure on the GBP and cause the GBP/USD to retest its lows from Monday (1.5285) and then the lows from Friday (1.5234) http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-cpi-gbpusd-at-precipice-as-more-qe-expected/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-cpi-gbpusd-at-precipice-as-more-qe-expected/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:48:42 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=64318 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-uk-cpi-gbpusd-at-precipice-as-more-qe-expected/feed/ 0 In the upcoming European trading session the UK will release its latest reading on consumer inflation. This an important release as it should further the theme that inflation is easing in the UK which lowers the threshold for the Bank of England to conduct further monetary easing via its bond purchase program. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/record-uk-current-account-deficit-to-pressure-uk-credit-rating/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/record-uk-current-account-deficit-to-pressure-uk-credit-rating/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:45:01 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=62776 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/record-uk-current-account-deficit-to-pressure-uk-credit-rating/feed/ 0 Yesterday, I argued that the UK's credit rating will be a major factor for the GBP/USD, with Moody's suggesting the loss of its AAA status would be a possibility if the economy faces another shock. The data to monitor will be the continuing debt profile of the UK and today we saw the credit account deficit hit a record high. That plays into our assumptions that the GBP/USD will fall, and in the short-term timeframe we see the GBP/USD creating a possible head-and-shoulders pattern. http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/keys-for-uk-public-finances-growth-outlook-credit-rating/ http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/keys-for-uk-public-finances-growth-outlook-credit-rating/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:14:17 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=62713 http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/keys-for-uk-public-finances-growth-outlook-credit-rating/feed/ 1 We bring together several key stories that are pertinent to the GBP revolving around UK growth, monetary policy, government borrowing and its credit rating. Moody's has said that the country has very little scope to absorb another shock, and with the weak outlook for the economy, the UK may lose its 'AAA' credit rating. We examine that while looking at the possibility of a retest of December's lows in the GBP/USD pair. http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/uk-economic-data-weakens-gbp-to-follow/ http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/uk-economic-data-weakens-gbp-to-follow/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:20 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=62178 http://www.fxtimes.com/commentaries/uk-economic-data-weakens-gbp-to-follow/feed/ 0 The economic data from the UK this week was a disappointment and may point to further GBP weakness in the coming months as the market fully prices in further quantitative easing from the Bank of England. We review the key fundamental releases and look at some key levels for the GBP/USD.