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EUR/GBP risks remain lower, GBP/JPY may rise on month end flows

GBP outperformance vs euro and Japanese yen can continue.

Pound Source: Bloomberg

Month and quarter end flows create choppy conditions

A rather choppy session for G10 FX with month and quarter-end flows the likely driver. In turn, with little on the domestic front for the pound, rebalancing is likely to remain in focus for the currency. GBP/USD has thus far managed to maintain a foothold above the $1.37 handle, however, with USD very much in the driving seat as firmer US yields underpin, my attention is instead focused on GBP crosses.

EUR/GBP risks remains tilted to the downside

Yesterday, EUR/GBP broke out from its month-long range, falling to £0.85. The continued vaccine advantage that the UK has over the European Union (EU) is likely to keep EUR/GBP risks tilted to the downside, particularly with the EU heading towards a third Covid-19 wave, meanwhile the UK have set out their roadmap to normalisation. Taking a look at the chart, near term support sits at £0.85 the figure with the £0.847 below, while on the topside £0.864 remains a hurdle.

EUR/GBP chart: daily time frame

EUR/GBP Chart: Daily Time Frame Source: Refinitiv
EUR/GBP Chart: Daily Time Frame Source: Refinitiv

GBP/JPY and month-end flows

Another GBP cross that tends to pique my interest around this time of the month is GBP/JPY, which typically performs pretty well on the final day of the trading month (particularly ahead of the 4pm London fix) as the table below shows. With that in mind, Japanese financial year (FY) end may also provide a tailwind to exacerbate the move higher, alongside the move higher in US yields.

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GBP/JPY performance on final trading day

GBP/JPY Performance on Final Trading Day Source: DailyFX
GBP/JPY Performance on Final Trading Day Source: DailyFX

GBP/JPY IG sentiment signals further gains

Retail trader data shows 39.19% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.55 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 6.84% higher than yesterday and 21.65% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 3.07% higher than yesterday and 3.07% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests GBP/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current GBP/JPY price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

GBP/JPY Client Positioning Source: IG, DailyFX
GBP/JPY Client Positioning Source: IG, DailyFX

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Ltd and IG Markets South Africa Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

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