GBP/USD falls towards 1.2000 as USD crawls higher ahead of data

• GBP/USD returns to the red as the US dollar sees resurgent demand.
• Lack of UK political news and risk-off flows weigh on cable.
• The pair recaptures 21 DMA but RSI still remains bearish.

GBP/USD is extending its pullback from three-week highs of 1.2091 in the European session, as risk-off flows dominate amid the worsening European gas crisis and an imminent recession in Germany.

Investors seek refuge in the traditional safe-haven asset, the US dollar, as the buck picks up fresh bids to recapture 106.50 against its major peers. The ongoing sell-off in the US Treasury yields fail to deter the dollar bulls. The greenback also finds demand, as investors turn cautious ahead of the Fed’s expected 75 bps rate hike announcement.

Meanwhile, various factors continue to limit the bullish attempts in the pound. A lack of any encouraging on the UK political front, with candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak battling out the leadership race. Ahead of next week’s BOE rate decision, money markets suggest a bold 50 bps than a conservative 25 bps increase. However, economists are much less certain, with 25 out of 54 polled by Reuters expecting a half-point hike, according to the latest Reuters poll.

Friday’s CFTC data showed IMM speculators reduced their GBP exposure by 10% in the fortnight to July 19, with gross GBP longs cut by 7,675 contracts to 33,850, per Reuters. The pair now awaits the US Durable Goods Orders and New Home Sales data. The main event risk for this week, however, remains the FOMC decision due on Wednesday.

Looking at the cable’s daily chart, the pair closed Monday above the bearish 21-Daily Moving Average (DMA), then at 1.2006.

Although with the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) lurking below the midline, sellers have returned and look to retest the 21 DMA resistance turned support, now at 1.1997.

A sustained break below the latter will expose Monday’s low of 1.1960, below which a test of the 1.1900 level will be inevitable.

On the flip side, if bulls manage to defend the 21 DMA, then a fresh advance towards the descending 50 DMA at 1.2238 cannot be ruled out.

GBP/USD: Daily chart

GBP/USD: Additional technical levels