Forex - GBP/USD weekly outlook: April 11-15

Investing.com – The pound rallied to a 15-month high against the U.S. dollar on Friday, after official data showing that U.K. producer output prices unexpectedly rose in March rekindled expectations for a near-term rate hike by the Bank of England.

GBP/USD hit 1.6427 on Friday, the pair’s highest since January 19, 2010; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.6380 by close of trade on Friday, jumping 1.67% over the week.

Cable was likely to find support at 1.6256, Wednesday’s low and resistance at 1.6425, Friday’s high and a 15-month high.

Sterling’s gains came after official data showing that U.K. producer output prices rose 5.4% in March, confounding forecasts for a slowdown to an annual increase of 5.1%.

On Thursday, the BoE held interest rates at a record low of 0.5%, amid uncertainty over the uneven nature of Britain’s economic recovery.

Data on Wednesday showed industrial output unexpectedly suffered its biggest fall since August 2009 in February. In contrast, data the day before showed the services sector picked up in March to grow at its fastest pace in more than a year.

Meanwhile, the greenback remained under pressure as the White House and Congress attempted to break a U.S. budget deadlock in order to avoid a government shutdown.

In the week ahead, investors will be looking towards March U.S. retail sales data to gauge the strength of consumer spending, as well as U.S. data on consumer and producer price inflation.

Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.

Monday, April 11

In the U.S., the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans is to speak; his comments will be closely watched for any clues to the future possible direction of monetary policy. Also Monday, Federal Reserve Governor Janet Yellen is to speak.

Tuesday, April 12

The U.K. is to publish official data on consumer price inflation, which is considered the country’s most important inflation data because it's used as the central bank's inflation target. The country is also to publish official data on the retail price index and the trade balance, the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services. In addition, the U.K. is to publish industry data on retail sales and house prices.

The U.S. is to release government data on its trade balance, the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services, as well as a report on import prices, an important indicator of inflation. The U.S. is also to publish monthly data on the federal budget balance.

Wednesday, April 13

The U.K. is to publish official data on claimant count change and average earnings as well as the overall unemployment rate, a leading indicator of economic health.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is to publish government data on retail sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity. The country is also to publish official data on business inventories and crude oil stockpiles while the Federal Reserve is to publish its Beige Book.

Thursday, April 14

The U.S. is to publish official data on producer price inflation, a leading indicator of consumer inflation. The country is also to publish its weekly report on initial jobless claims, an important signal of overall economic health.

Friday, April 15

The U.S. is to publish official data on consumer price inflation, which accounts for a majority of overall inflation. In addition, the U.S. is to publish official data on industrial production and the capacity utilization rate, while the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is to publish its manufacturing index. The U.S. is also to publish a report on the balance of domestic and foreign investment, while the University of Michigan is to publish preliminary data on consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.