empty
09.05.2025 12:28 AM
GBP/USD: Bank of England Cuts Rates, Trump Signs Trade Deal with London

On Thursday, the Bank of England delivered a widely expected 25 basis point interest rate cut. Despite the dovish decision, the pound reacted positively to the outcome of the May meeting. The GBP/USD pair even updated its intraday high, reaching 1.3355. Although the pair remained within the established price range (1.3250–1.3380), the British currency's reaction is telling.

This image is no longer relevant

The May meeting results can be considered hawkish despite the rate cut. This was a classic case of a "hawkish cut": the central bank did not announce further steps toward monetary easing and even revised its economic growth forecast upward.

Markets had no doubt the BoE would take another step toward looser monetary conditions, so the formal outcome of the meeting was largely priced in. The details of the meeting strengthened the pound.

For instance, seven out of nine MPC members voted for the rate cut, while two—Chief Economist Huw Pill and Catherine Mann—voted to keep the rate at 4.5%. This was a surprise, as the market had expected a unanimous 9–0 vote in favor of a cut. While one or two votes wouldn't change the result, the softening of the dovish camp boosted sterling.

In addition, the BoE raised its 2025 GDP growth forecast from 0.75% (February projection) to 1.0%.

Governor Andrew Bailey noted that the negative impact of tariffs on the UK economy "is likely to be less significant than in other countries." He also welcomed Donald Trump's announcement of a U.S.-UK trade deal, saying it would "help reduce uncertainty."

Regarding future policy moves, Bailey emphasized that interest rates are not on "autopilot" and confirmed a cautious approach. This aligns with market expectations for two more cuts before year-end.

Overall, the May BoE meeting played more in favor of the pound than against it. However, GBP/USD buyers only managed to post a new intraday high while staying within the broader 1.3250–1.3380 range.

Why?

There are a few reasons. First, the BoE implemented the base-case scenario, and the hawkish tilt was relatively mild. The policy statement used vague language, such as saying that the policy should remain restrictive "long enough until the risks of a sustainable return of inflation to the 2% target have dissipated."

Second, some pressure on the pound came from the early details of the U.S.-UK trade agreement. Although still unconfirmed, rumors suggest the 10% tariff on UK goods will remain in place, despite Trump's claims of a "comprehensive" deal.

Also, the UK continues to face 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars imposed by Trump. While some relief may be forthcoming, nothing has been officially announced.

Given this contradictory fundamental backdrop, buying and selling GBP/USD appear equally risky. Traders have priced in the BoE decision but not the new trade deal with Washington. It remains unclear whether the new terms will benefit the UK and, if so, to what extent. There's a stark contrast between pre-Trump terms and the current situation, where tariffs of 10% and 25% are in effect.

The complete details of the trade agreement are expected to cause volatility in the GBP/USD currency pair. It remains uncertain whether this will positively or negatively impact the pound. For now, it may be best to avoid entering the market until the situation stabilizes.

Irina Manzenko,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

The Fed Maintains a Wait-and-See Approach

The market expects active measures from the U.S. central bank, while Donald Trump keeps demanding that Jerome Powell cut interest rates. It's worth noting that Powell cannot make such decisions

Chin Zhao 00:41 2025-05-21 UTC+2

The Dollar Regains Its Spirit

As the CFTC report showed, investors are still not very impressed that the US and China have managed to reduce trade tensions and take a pause for negotiations

Kuvat Raharjo 00:26 2025-05-21 UTC+2

EUR/USD: Weak Dollar Meets Indecisive Euro

The EUR/USD pair has consolidated above the 1.1200 level, reflecting the overall weakening of the U.S. dollar. The "bearish attack" we witnessed last week ended in failure. EUR/USD sellers were

Irina Manzenko 19:35 2025-05-20 UTC+2

Euro Exhausts Bullish Momentum

Inflation in the eurozone remained unchanged in April compared to March, fully in line with forecasts—2.2% year-over-year for the headline index, and 2.7% year-over-year for the core index. This inflation

Kuvat Raharjo 19:16 2025-05-20 UTC+2

AUD/NZD. Analysis and Forecast

The AUD/NZD pair is declining, drawing seller interest following the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to lower the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.85%. Although

Irina Yanina 19:09 2025-05-20 UTC+2

USD/CAD. Current Market Situation Amid Mixed Fundamental Background

The pair is under pressure, trading within the familiar range established earlier. At the moment, the fundamental background is mixed. Crude oil prices are struggling to attract significant buyers, especially

Irina Yanina 19:07 2025-05-20 UTC+2

DXY. The U.S. Dollar Continues to Struggle

Today, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the dollar's performance against a basket of currencies, is trading near its weekly low, continuing to fight for relevance. The lack

Irina Yanina 19:04 2025-05-20 UTC+2

The Dollar Is Back to Its Old Ways

Markets thrive on conspiracy theories more than anything else. Investors continue to believe that Donald Trump wants a weak dollar to boost the competitiveness of American manufacturers. It's no surprise

Marek Petkovich 18:54 2025-05-20 UTC+2

AUD/USD. RBA Delivers Dovish Scenario, but It's Too Early to Rush into Selling

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) followed the most expected scenario at its May meeting, cutting the interest rate by 25 basis points. However, AUD/USD sellers remain vulnerable

Irina Manzenko 11:44 2025-05-20 UTC+2

Financial Markets Still Gripped by Uncertainty (Potential Decline in #USDX and Gold Prices)

Despite the 90-day truce between Beijing and Washington, market conditions remain extremely tense. Investors are uncertain about what will happen after three months—whether Donald Trump will hike tariffs again

Pati Gani 09:42 2025-05-20 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.