GBPUSD bulls surpass 1.18 despite conflicting UK employment data

GBPUSD buyers surpass 1.1800 to resume intraday highs near 1.1810 amid mixed data from the United Kingdom's most recent employment report, which was released early Tuesday morning in London. The Cable pair may have done so in response to the US Dollar's sluggish movement and Britain's geopolitical woes.

The Claimant Count Change for the United Kingdom increased to 3,300 against estimates of -12.6K and previous readings of 25.5K, while the Unemployment Rate soared to 3.6%, above market expectations and prior readings of 3.5%.

The Times reports that rumors that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will propose a plan to increase the national living wage and provide cost-of-living payments of up to 1,100 pounds ($1,292.61) to eight million households also benefit GBPUSD buyers. According to the report, "Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Sunak will accept an official recommendation to increase the living wage from £9.50 per hour to about £10.40 per hour, a roughly 10% rise."

Aside from this, recent Fed policymaker pronouncements appear to have boosted expectations for fewer rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve (Fed), which has also bolstered GBPUSD bulls. Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Michael Barr, remarked that the rate of inflation is overly high. Vice-Chair Lael Brainard previously backed a 50 basis point (bps) rate rise, but she conceded, "We have additional work to do." Christopher Waller, governor of the Federal Reserve, called for a 0.50 percentage point rate hike on Monday and cautioned against the market's interpretation of the pivot.

At press time, S&P 500 Futures report intraday gains of 0.50% near the monthly high, as US 10-year Treasury rates grind higher around 3.87%, threatening the US Dollar Index's (DXY) recovery near 107.00.

Prior to the US Producer Price Index (PPI) for October, which is expected to be 8.3% YoY versus 8.5% before, GBPUSD traders should focus on the aforementioned risk catalysts for clear direction. Positive results are anticipated for the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October and the British Autumn Statement on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.