The released macroeconomic data from the United Kingdom last Thursday supported the pound. According to the data presented by Markit Economics, the preliminary November business activity indices in the British economy exceeded expectations. Thus, the preliminary PMI for the services sector rose to 50.5, and the composite PMI to 50.1, above the 50 threshold that separates activity growth from slowdown. Although the manufacturing PMI is still below the 50 level, at 46.7 (compared to 44.8 in October and a forecast of 45.0), these data reduce the risks of a recession in the UK.
Today (at 14:45 GMT), S&P Global in the USA will publish similar indices. Economists expect a decrease in November figures: manufacturing PMI to 49.8 (from 50.0 earlier) and services sector to 50.4 (from 50.6 in October). The manufacturing PMI is also expected to be worse than the October figure of 50.0, entering the slowdown zone. Despite the low market activity today due to Thanksgiving celebrations in the country and a shortened working day in the USA, this macro statistic may exert additional negative pressure on the dollar, pushing GBP/USD to a new local high after reaching 1.2571 yesterday, the highest since September 7.
The dollar itself remains under pressure after literally collapsing due to the publication of U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data last week: October CPI slowed from 0.4% to 0.0% (from 3.7% to 3.2% on an annual basis), while economists forecasted 0.1% and 3.3%, respectively.
The ongoing slowdown in inflation in the USA provides grounds to assume that the Federal Reserve will soon move towards easing credit and monetary conditions, which is a negative factor for the U.S. dollar. Despite signals in the recent FOMC minutes on the need to maintain a tight monetary policy and the possibility of a new interest rate hike, the dollar has not yet recovered from losses following the publication of the latest inflation data in the USA.
In recent reports, the annual UK Consumer Price Index also decreased from 6.7% to 4.6%, and GDP remained at 0%. However, in recent comments, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey emphasized that rates should continue to rise as inflation is still high, although this tightening of monetary policy may negatively impact the British economy.
However, major investment banks have recently raised their forecasts for economic growth in the UK. This year, JPMorgan Chase & Co. experts estimate it at 0.4% (instead of 0.2%), while Goldman Sachs analysts says it will be 0.7% (compared to 0.6% earlier).
According to most economists, the transition of the PMIs of the British economy from the stagnation zone to the growth zone, with high inflation persisting in the country, helps the Bank of England leaders make a bolder choice towards further tightening of monetary policy, which, in turn, creates prerequisites for further strengthening of the pound.
Will this help further growth of the GBP/USD pair? If the dollar fails to regain positive dynamics, then yes.
Meanwhile, GBP/USD is updating 11-week highs, strengthening towards the important long-term resistance level of 1.2610. If, as we assumed, the dollar cannot regain lost positions and restore positive dynamics, then the next target for the pair will be the key resistance level of 1.2740, separating the long-term bearish trend of the pair from the bullish one.
