{"id":39231,"date":"2026-01-15T16:46:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T08:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/?p=39231"},"modified":"2026-01-15T16:46:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T08:46:36","slug":"sterling-finds-support-from-growth-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/analysis\/sterling-finds-support-from-growth-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Sterling Finds Support From Growth Surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/download-61-1024x559.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18737\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>GBP\/USD steadies after UK GDP rebounds stronger than forecast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BoE rate cut expectations ease slightly but remain front-loaded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>The pound pared earlier losses against the US dollar on Wednesday, holding near the 1.34 handle after UK economic growth exceeded expectations. The data provided near-term support for sterling, helping GBP\/USD stabilise after recent volatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UK economy rebounded in run up to budget, and estate agents grow more confident &#8212; get briefed ahead of your morning calls with The London Rush <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CIPc3Bwday\">https:\/\/t.co\/CIPc3Bwday<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bloomberg (@business) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/business\/status\/2011714200997913055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3CzgSLC6kd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">UK GDP rose 0.3% month-on-month<\/a> in November, rebounding from a 0.1% contraction in October and comfortably beating forecasts for a modest 0.1% increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a rolling three-month basis, output expanded 0.1%, defying expectations for a contraction and easing concerns that the economy is slipping into stagnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">BoE Rate Expectations Adjust at the Margins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The stronger growth print has prompted a modest recalibration of interest rate expectations. Markets are now pricing in roughly 46 basis points of easing by year-end, slightly less aggressive than before the data release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A first-rate cut from the <strong>Bank of England<\/strong> remains fully priced by mid-year, with traders assigning a high probability to an initial move as early as April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Bank of England\u2019s relaxation of capital requirements will lift shareholder payouts but do little to boost the wider economy, according to two of the central bank\u2019s former senior officials. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/E2TLTCXQFi\">https:\/\/t.co\/E2TLTCXQFi<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bloomberg (@business) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/business\/status\/2011606354377441674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, expectations for follow-up cuts later in the year have softened marginally, reflecting improved confidence in near-term economic momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The repricing has helped limit downside pressure on sterling, though it has not been sufficient to drive a sustained breakout higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Technical Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>GBP\/USD is showing signs of consolidation after a strong rebound from the <strong>1.30095<\/strong> low in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pair has been struggling to stay above the <strong>1.34500<\/strong> level, with recent candles signalling indecision. The short-term moving averages (5, 10, 30) are starting to flatten, indicating a possible pause in bullish momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/1_image-10-1024x446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39234\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>MACD<\/strong> has rolled over into a bearish crossover, with the histogram below zero and widening\u2014suggesting fading upside strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Price is holding just above the 30-day MA for now, but momentum appears to be slowing near-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Near-Term Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sterling\u2019s resilience reflects a balance between firmer domestic data and the reality that rate cuts remain firmly on the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bank of England rate-setter Alan Taylor says that UK price pressures are being eased by Trump\u2019s tariffs redirecting global trade <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/d44jZkmQUj\">https:\/\/t.co\/d44jZkmQUj<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bloomberg (@business) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/business\/status\/2011361749073613083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Further upside in GBP\/USD will likely require additional evidence that UK growth can remain resilient without prompting the BoE to accelerate easing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until then, the pair appears set to remain range-bound, with incoming inflation data and central bank communication shaping the next directional move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more about trading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/forex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Forex Pairs<\/a> on VT Markets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/Insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GBP\/USD stabilises near 1.34 after UK GDP beats expectations, prompting a modest repricing of BoE easing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":18737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[10,58],"class_list":["post-39231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-forex","tag-pound"],"acf":{"acf_article_selection_author":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}