Pound reaches 1.3400 on UK jobs beat and softer dollar: Oct 20, 2026
The pound rose to 1.3400 after upbeat UK employment data and a pickup in wage growth ahead of a Bank of England meeting. The move, which took the price above its 100-day moving average and above the 20-day average, was linked to diverging Fed-BoE expectations while the US dollar retreated as yields turned lower.
Updated
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The day on the wire
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Each tick is a headline first seen that day.
Headlines (17)
First seen on October 20
- The Pound Is Capitalising on ExpectationsActionForex
- Event Guide: U.K. CPI Report (September 2026)babypips.com
- British Pound gains ground amid diverging Fed-BoE expectationsFXStreet
- GBP/USD Price Forecast: Reflects strength above 20-day EMA ahead of UK job dataFXStreet
- Pound Sterling: Jobs Print Triggers Gains Against Euro and Dollarpoundsterlinglive.com
- U.K. Wage Growth Picks Up Ahead of Bank of England MeetingThe Wall Street Journal
- British Pound maintains its bid tone buoyed by upbeat UK unemployment figuresFXStreet
- Forex Today: Pound rises on upbeat employment data, US Dollar retreats as yields turn southFXStreet
- GBPUSD Technicals: The price extends gains and moves above the 100 day MA in the processInvestingLive
- British Pound surges to 1.3400 as UK jobs beat, Iran deal hopes growFXStreet
Carried over from earlier days
- British Pound bulls seem hesitant above 1.3300 as USD steadies on Fed, geopolitical risksFXStreet
- GBP/USD Reversal Test: Can UK CPI Sustain BoE Tightening Bets Beyond November?ActionForex
- Sterling today: Pound edges lower; AI jitters cloud dollar outlookInvesting.com
- Economic data spotlight: UK inflation set to climb as BOE rate hike and autumn budget collideInvestingLive
- Nothing Seems to Rattle the Pound Sterling. Forecast as of 19.10.2026LiteFinance
- 0.8403: Euro struggles to find a bottom against British Pound as violence shocks FranceFXStreet
- British Pound: BoE tightening seen over-priced – BBHFXStreet
Scheduled events
As of
| Event | Forecast | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 20 | ||
| Average Earnings Index 3m/y | 3.8% | GBP |
| Claimant Count Change | 19.4K | GBP |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | GBP |
| 10-y Bond Auction | GBP | |
| ADP Weekly Employment Change | USD | |
| Building Permits | 1.39M | USD |
| Housing Starts | 1.30M | USD |
| Pending Home Sales m/m | -0.6% | USD |