GBP/USD pair is kept at lows, despite a report on Britain's GDP

28.08.2015

On Friday, the pound is traded steadily against the US dollar, holding itself at a six-week low of the previous session, even after data showed that the UK economy has demonstrated the expected growth in the second quarter.

During European morning trade session, GBP/USD pair reached 1.5443, the session high; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.5414.

The pair is likely to receive support at 1.5368, Thursday's low, and resistance at 1.5508, Thursday's high.

The Office for National Statistics reported that UK gross domestic product in the second quarter rose 0.7%, in line with expectations, unchanged from a preliminary estimate.

In annual calculation of the UK GDP, it grew by 2.6% in the last quarter, matching market expectations.

But the growth of the pound is limited because demand for the dollar is still remaining after the Thursday data showed that US GDP grew at an annualized rate by 3.7% in the three months ended June 30, more than the expected growth at 3.2%.

The data also showed that the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits in the US for the week ending August 22 fell 6000 to 271000 from 277000 the previous week.

Positive data added to optimism about the prospects for global economic growth, while concerns about the volatility in Asian markets weakened. On Friday, the Shanghai Stock Exchange opened higher after the close of the previous session with a growth by 5%.

The pound fell against the euro; EUR/GBP pair rose 0.36% to 0.7325.

This week, the dollar rose 1.1% against the euro. Its rate increased against all national currencies of G10, with the exception of the yen: USD/JPY fell 0.9%.

The most significant decline among major currencies since the beginning of the week showed the New Zealand and Australian dollars, which fell 3.3% and 2% respectively.

The USD index rose 0.06 % to 95.671, before rising to 96.031, the weekly high.

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