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GBPUSD – Still Bullish Despite Retail Sales Data

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Having rallied strongly on Wednesday, cable is paring gains today but we are still seeing signs that the pair remains bullish.

The most obvious of these came following the US retail sales release, which along with the core reading was better than already high expectations. The previous reading for April was also revised higher.

This suggests the consumer is starting to spend some of that extra disposable income from higher wages and lower oil prices. This should start to filter through into higher inflation readings which could prompt the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates this year – an event that would typically be bullish for the dollar.

The initial reaction to this reading was just that, a rally in the dollar, but when it came up against its first key technical support area – recent resistance on a couple of occasions and previous support between 1.54 and 1.5450 – it rebounded higher.

gbpusd 4hr

What we’ve been left with on the four hour chart is something that resembles a tweezer bottom, a bullish reversal pattern.

That suggests to me there’s more upside to come in this pair and if yesterday’s highs can be broken, 1.56 looks the next clear resistance level.

gbpusd daily

I still think the pair could go beyond here and the first major test will be the 233-day simple moving average just below 1.57, but I will keep a close eye on the chart for any sign that this will not happen.

For example this could be a divergence between a divergence between an oscillator and price action combined with a reversal on the 4-hour chart.

If we fail to break above yesterday’s highs, it could be a warning sign of a bearish reversal, especially if accompanied by a hanging man candle. That would make tomorrow very interesting and important.

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This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Craig Erlam

Craig Erlam

Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA at OANDA
Based in London, Craig Erlam joined OANDA in 2015 as a market analyst. With many years of experience as a financial market analyst and trader, he focuses on both fundamental and technical analysis while producing macroeconomic commentary. His views have been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, The Telegraph and the International Business Times, and he also appears as a regular guest commentator on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX Business and SKY News. Craig holds a full membership to the Society of Technical Analysts and is recognised as a Certified Financial Technician by the International Federation of Technical Analysts.
Craig Erlam

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