Hot forecast for GBP/USD on November 2, 2023

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep the refinancing rate unchanged but still left the door open for further interest-rate hikes in the future. In theory, this should have prompted the US dollar to rise further. However, that didn't happen. In fact, the pound even returned to the levels it was at the day before, prior to the release of the eurozone inflation data. This might be due to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He explicitly mentioned that further rate hikes could have a negative impact on the economy, whereas the central bank aims for the opposite. This is the first such statement made in such plain sight. Thus, it appears that the US central bank is starting to prepare the public for the gradual easing of monetary policy. It's this abrupt change in stance that has led to the US dollar's weakness.

The Bank of England will hold its meeting today, and the results will likely be similar. Hints of an imminent interest rate cut are expected to be even more explicit and direct. This is likely to lead the foreign exchange market back to the levels it was at before yesterday's FOMC meeting.