GBP/USD has broken below the ascending trendline in place since April 2025 and has continued to weaken towards the March low, cited at 1.3150 and 1.3159. Resistance is flagged around 1.3300, while support is seen at 1.3065/1.3000; if the pair fails to regain that resistance, further downside projections point to 1.2940. The overnight range was 1.3163 to 1.3230, and the move has taken the pair back below the 1.32 level.
Sterling is down 1.6% this week, ranking as the third worst performer in the G10, behind NOK and NZD. UK 10-year yields have moved back above 4.80%, and the Sonia curve is pricing one rate increase by year-end. The technical focus remains on whether the March low holds, with 1.3065 the next referenced level on the downside and 1.3300 the initial ceiling on any rebound.
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Bearish Technical Signal and Options Strategy
We see the break below the ascending trendline from April 2025 as a significant bearish signal for the British Pound. The failure to hold this multi-month support suggests that the path of least resistance is now lower. This technical breakdown opens the door for traders to position for a continued decline in the coming weeks.
Our immediate focus is on the March low around 1.3150, which is the last line of defense. We are looking to buy put options with strike prices near 1.3050, targeting the lows from last November. Using expirations in late July or August 2026 will provide enough time for the currency pair to test these lower levels.
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Macro Backdrop and Risk Management
This bearish technical view is supported by a strengthening US dollar, as recent US Core PCE inflation data came in at 2.9%, keeping the Federal Reserve on a hawkish path. In contrast, the UK’s latest CPI reading of 2.4% is not high enough to force the Bank of England into more aggressive action. The latest CFTC report also shows that speculative net-long positions in sterling were trimmed for a second straight week, confirming a shift in market sentiment.
For risk management, the 1.3300 level is now critical resistance. A decisive move back above this point would invalidate our bearish outlook and signal a false breakdown. We would consider selling call spreads with the short strike at 1.3300 to collect premium while defining our risk, should the pound attempt a short-term rebound.
Historically, we have seen similar technical setups in summer months lead to accelerated moves, like the sharp 4% drop in the summer of 2024 following a channel break. Implied volatility for one-month GBP/USD options is currently trading at a modest 6.8%, which we believe does not fully price in the risk of a slide towards 1.3000. This presents a relatively inexpensive opportunity to establish bearish positions.
