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

What to Pay Attention to on May 20? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

There are no macroeconomic events scheduled for Tuesday, so the macroeconomic background will have no influence on price movements today. However, reports and data releases have rarely impacted currency pairs

Paolo Greco 06:02 2025-05-20 UTC+2

The Fed Allows Only One Rate Cut in 2025

The Federal Reserve continues to remain silent this year. While the European Central Bank has already cut interest rates three times and the Bank of England twice, the FOMC

Chin Zhao 00:40 2025-05-20 UTC+2

AUD/USD. RBA May Meeting: Preview

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will conclude its meeting on Tuesday, May 20, which may result in a softening of monetary policy parameters. The "dovish" scenario is the most

Irina Manzenko 00:40 2025-05-20 UTC+2

The Dollar Has Sold America Out Completely

Overall, the strength of the EUR/USD uptrend remains intact. The erosion of confidence in the U.S. dollar outweighs the divergence in monetary policy between the Fed and the ECB. Technical

Marek Petkovich 00:40 2025-05-20 UTC+2

AUD/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Spot prices for the AUD/USD pair remain within the familiar range held over the past month, as traders await a fresh catalyst before committing to the next directional move

Irina Yanina 18:22 2025-05-19 UTC+2

WTI – West Texas Intermediate. WTI Crude Holds Modest Intraday Losses

Today, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is holding modest intraday losses. Uncertainty surrounding the ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks, along with rising tensions between Estonia and Russia following Sunday's detention

Irina Yanina 18:16 2025-05-19 UTC+2

USD/CAD. Analysis and Forecast

On Monday, the first trading day of the week, the USD/CAD pair attempted to gain significant upward momentum during the Asian session, but the European session failed to support this

Irina Yanina 18:03 2025-05-19 UTC+2

Bitcoin falls prey to crooks

Trust in the financial world is not exclusive to the US dollar. News that scammers have stolen data from approximately 197,000 clients of Coinbase — the world's largest crypto exchange

Marek Petkovich 13:20 2025-05-19 UTC+2

Are There Reasons for the Market Rally to Continue? (Possible Decline in AUD/USD and Growth in GBP/USD)

The coming week is expected to be light on major events or dramatic headlines—no new promises from Donald Trump to shake the world. Nevertheless, there will still be factors worth

Pati Gani 09:52 2025-05-19 UTC+2

The Market Has Gone Too Far

Nothing seems to matter. One would think that after the White House signed trade agreements with Britain and China, and following Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, the S&P

Marek Petkovich 09:18 2025-05-19 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.