GBP/USD extends downside below 1.2700 ahead of BoE's Bailey speech

• GBP/USD trades in negative territory for the fifth consecutive day near 1.2685 in Thursday’s Asian session. 

• US inflation rose to 2.6% YoY in October, as expected. 

• Investors await the BoE’s Governor Andrew Bailey speech on Thursday. 

The GBP/USD pair extends the decline to near 1.2685 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. A rally in the US Dollar (USD) to the highest level since November 2023 weighs on the major pair. The Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey is set to speak later on Thursday. 

Data released by the US Department of Labor Statistics on Wednesday showed that the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in line with expectations, rising by 2.6% YoY in October. Meanwhile, the core CPI, which excludes the more volatile food and energy categories, climbed by 3.3% YoY in October, mating with the estimation. The markets expect the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep on track to reduce rates at their next meeting in December. 

“No surprises from the CPI, so for now the Fed should be on course to cut rates again in December. Next year is a different story, though, given the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs and other Trump administration policies,” noted Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. 

Fed officials remain cautious on rate cuts. On Wednesday, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said that the US central bank should proceed cautiously on further interest rate cuts to keep from inadvertently reigniting inflation. Additionally, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem stated that sticky inflation figures make it difficult for the US central bank to continue to ease rates. Traders raise their bet on another quarter-percentage-point rate cut in December, albeit at a slower pace, through mid-2025.

On the UK’s front, the BoE policymaker Catherine Mann said monetary policy is impacting inflation more quickly than economic theory suggests, allowing the central bank to wait before making big cuts to interest rates. Traders have fully priced in only two quarter-point rate cuts by the end of 2025, which would put the BoE lag behind other major central banks. 

Traders will take more cues from the BoE’s Bailey speech later on Thursday for fresh impetus. Less dovish comments from the UK central bank could underpin the Pound Sterling (GBP) against the GBP.