GBP/USD bullish move stalls near 1.4300 handle, retreats from 3-month tops

   •  A modest USD rebound prompts some profit-taking move.
   •  On track to post second consecutive week of gains.

The GBP/USD pair stalled its bullish momentum near the 1.4300 handle and has now retreated around 30-40 pips from near 3-month tops touched earlier.

In absence of any fresh fundamental catalyst, the pair's latest leg of sharp retracement over the past hour or so could be solely attributed to some profit-taking, especially after the recent upsurge of around 225-pips since the beginning of this week. 

Adding to this, a modest US Dollar rebound, backed by an uptick in the US Treasury bond yields, seems to be the only factor behind some long-unwinding trade from a psychologically important round figure mark, also coinciding with 61.8% Fibonacci expansion level of 1.3712-1.4245 up-move and subsequent retracement.

Today's relatively thin US economic docket, featuring the release of Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment and JOLTS Job Openings data would now be looked upon for some short-term trading opportunities on the last trading day of the week.

Nevertheless, the pair remains on track to post the second consecutive week of gains and possibly for the highest weekly close since the historic Brexit referendum.

Technical levels to watch

Any subsequent retracement is likely to find support near the 1.4230-25 region, below which a follow-through long-unwinding pressure might continue dragging the pair further towards the 1.4200 handle en-route 1.4170 horizontal support.

On the upside, the 1.4300 handle now seems to have emerged as an immediate hurdle, above which the pair could aim back towards January swing high resistance near the 1.4345 region.