GBP plunges after Bank of England extra £100 billion stimulus!

<p>
On Thursday 18 June, the Bank of England added another £100 billion to its quantitative easing programme taking its coronavirus stimulus plan to a whopping £745 billion. The bank also surprised many investors by deciding against taking interest rates into negative territory and keeping its main lending rate at just 0.1%. The British Pound (GBP) plunged immediately after the news announcement sending GBPUSD down to a 12-day low. Read on to find out what could be in store for the currency next!
</p><p>
<a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/analytics/traders-blog/bank-of-england-stimulus-gbp"><img data-resize="auto" data-resize="auto" data-resize="auto" data-resize="auto" style="width:auto;" data-src="https://fxmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/remote/db707b6a7e65d64e211a89a39279f7ad.jpeg" alt="Trading GBPUSD" rel=""></a>
</p><h2>Bank of England disappoints investors</h2><p>
Global central banks such as the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank have publicly vowed they will do 'whatever it takes' to shore up their economies. Unfortunately, the Bank of England made no such commitment to investors, opting only to increase its Asset Purchase Facility (APF) buy £100 billion to £745 billion.
</p><p>
The bank's bond-buying facility aims to shore up the UK economy while navigating the impact from the coronavirus pandemic. Investors were not only hoping for a bit more commitment from the bank but they have also been eyeing up the potential for negative interest rates. A tactic used by central banks to encourage borrowing and spending to get the economy moving.
</p><p>
In the latest Monetary Policy Summary the bank decided to keep rates steady at just 0.1% which has already been reduced twice from 0.75% from the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Interestingly, many analysts believe the Bank of England will choose not to go down this route but rather increase its quantitative easing programme and tweak credit provision facilities to make it cheaper for banks to lend to companies to get the economy firing once again.
</p><p>
The UK is currently the fifth worst affected country from the impact of Covid-19. Investors were hoping for more from the Bank of England. This is just one reason the British pound dropped against all other major currencies with British pound against the Japanese Yen (GBPJPY) the worst hit. The disappointment between what the market was expecting and what the central bank gave is now providing some very interesting trading opportunities.
</p><h2>How to trade GBPUSD</h2><p>
Below is the long-term, monthly price chart of the British pound against the US dollar (<a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/start-trading/contract-specifications/instrument/gbpusd" target="_blank">GBPUSD</a>):
</p><p>
<img data-resize="auto" src="https://fxmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/remote/81215bfdffc086c1bb9c61fabb631bb6.png" />
</p><p>
<em>Source: Admiral Markets <a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/trading-platforms/metatrader-5" target="_blank">MetaTrader 5</a>, GBPUSD, Monthly – Data range: from 1 April 2005 to 18 June 2020, accessed on 18 June 2020 at 1:30 pm BST. Please note: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.</em>
</p><p>
With Admiral Markets UK Ltd you can trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on more than 40 different currency pairs and other asset classes. This product allows you to go long and short a market. You can learn more about the advantages and risks in the '<a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/education/articles/forex-basics/what-is-cfd-trading-contracts-for-difference-explained">What is CFD Trading?</a>' article.
</p><p>
The long-term downtrend of the currency pair above is quite clear. Different events such as Brexit and political frictions have weighed on the British pound for some time. However, it is the daily chart of GBPUSD that is providing some very interesting clues for traders.
</p><p>
<img data-resize="auto" src="https://fxmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/remote/524d561ef092ae83553e14607c241546.png" />
</p><p>
<em>Source: Admiral Markets MetaTrader 5, GBPUSD, Daily – Data range: from 4 October 2009 to 18 June 2020, accessed on 18 June 2020 at 2:30 pm BST. Please note: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.</em>
</p><p>
In the above daily chart of GBPUSD, price has remained in a trading range for the last few months. This range, or consolidation, is shown the blue horizontal <a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/education/articles/forex-strategy/support-and-resistance-indicators-with-a-trading-strategy" target="_blank">support and resistance</a> line drawn onto the chart. What is most interesting is that the price failed to break to the downside on the 15 May but has also failed to break to the upside on the 5 June.
</p><p>
This recent failure also created a commonly used price action reversal pattern called a 'shooting star' candlestick pattern on 16 June. Both technical and fundamental traders now seem to have a bearish case for the British pound which could lead the market to fall even further and the bottom of this trading range. How will you be trading it?
</p><p>
One way to help you make more effective trading decisions is to download the Trading Central Technical Ideas indicator completely FREE by upgrading your MetaTrader 5 trading platform to the Supreme Edition provided by Admiral Markets. This indicator provides you with actionable trading ideas and technical analysis on a wide range of asset classes. To get it free, just click on the banner below and download it today:
</p><p><a href="https://admiralmarkets.com/trading-platforms/metatrader-se" target="_blank"><img data-resize="auto" src="https://fxmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/MT5_SE_dark-2.png" rel="" alt="Download MetaTrader 5 Supreme Edition to trade GBPUSD" /></a></p><p><em>INFORMATION ABOUT ANALYTICAL MATERIALS:</em></p><p><em>The given data provides additional information regarding all analysis, estimates, prognosis, forecasts, market reviews, weekly outlooks or other similar assessments or information (hereinafter "Analysis") published on the website of Admiral Markets. Before making any investment decisions please pay close attention to the following:</em></p><p><em>1.This is a marketing communication. The content is published for informative purposes only and is in no way to be construed as investment advice or recommendation. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and that it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.</em></p><p><em>2.Any investment decision is made by each client alone whereas Admiral Markets AS (Admiral Markets) shall not be responsible for any loss or damage arising from any such decision, whether or not based on the content.</em></p><p><em>3.With view to protecting the interests of our clients and the objectivity of the Analysis, Admiral Markets has established relevant internal procedures for prevention and management of conflicts of interest.</em></p><p><em>4.The Analysis is prepared by an independent analyst Jitan Solanki, Freelance Contributor (hereinafter "Author") based on personal estimations.</em></p><p><em>5.Whilst every reasonable effort is taken to ensure that all sources of the content are reliable and that all information is presented, as much as possible, in an understandable, timely, precise and complete manner, Admiral Markets does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within the Analysis.</em></p><p><em>6.Any kind of past or modeled performance of financial instruments indicated within the content should not be construed as an express or implied promise, guarantee or implication by Admiral Markets for any future performance. The value of the financial instrument may both increase and decrease and the preservation of the asset value is not guaranteed.</em></p><p><em>7.Leveraged products (including contracts for difference) are speculative in nature and may result in losses or profit. Before you start trading, please ensure that you fully understand the</em><a href="https://admiralmarkets.com.au/risk-disclosure"><em> risks involved</em></a><em>.</em></p>