GBP/USD Forex Market Back Above Key Level

• Market jumps back above important 1.30 figure after shaky start
• Pound buoyed by positive CPI
• No Deal Brexit and China fears still holding traders

The GBP/USD has begun to climb again after a protracted period of uncertainty which has seen it hover around a key benchmark area. 1.30 has been a sticking point for the market over recent days and weeks. This is no surprise given the level of uncertainty that has plagued the geopolitical scene of late. A turbulent Brexit was finally brought to pass, this though is far from done with many of the key negotiations still to come before the end of 2020.

USD Silence Helps the Climb Back

The currency pair is in fact reversing the previous day’s session that saw it close below this key point. It is doing so with the help of a very quiet USD currency and market. This could be related to the news earlier in the week of a revenue warning from Apple. With the DOW Jones, and NASDAQ also down, it is possible that traders are giving the market a slightly wide berth for now and waiting for some more positive news on the global stage.

Consumer Price Index Boost for GBP

The strength of the Pound in this pair can be somewhat attributed to the recent release of economic figures more than the current and ongoing post-Brexit negotiations. Both the CPI (Consumer Price Index), and PPI (Producer Price Index) which measure how price rises and inflation impact both parties, came in stronger than expected.

While this may not spell great news for British consumers at the checkout with inflation reaching a high point, it has given the currency a boost. This number may show that UK production and consumer spending have been very healthy in real terms.

The British CPI managed to jump 1.8% in its year-on-year number for January. This is steadily more than the 1.3% rise of the previous year and again more than the 1.6% expected. All in all, a potential rise in consumer confidence may be garnered from these figures.

Still Worries on the Horizon

Despite the positive movements of the day, there are still challenging points for the pair, and the wider economy to deal with. On a somewhat domestic level, the ongoing negotiations about the future UK relationship with the EU are set to drag on. Latest headlines today show that the UK remain committed to a points-based entry system that will severely limit opportunities to unskilled worked from outside the country.

Finally, in China, there is still the ongoing issue of the Coronavirus. Catching few headlines but the virus is still serving to restrict operations of companies within China and overseas. This widespread supply chain disruption is seen to be behind the Apple revenue warning and the fall of both the DOW and the NASDAQ which is heavily reliant on the Chinese market.
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