Forex
GBP/USD
British pound versus US dollar, known as 'Cable'.
GBP/USD chart
- Spot FX
- Intraday · may be delayed
- FX:GBPUSD
Spot GBP/USD quoted by FXCM. Spot FX has no single official price, so quotes differ slightly between providers; broker tick volume is not shown.
About the GBP/USD
GBP/USD is the number of US dollars per British pound. Its nickname, 'Cable', dates to the transatlantic telegraph cable once used to transmit the exchange rate.
The pair reflects the relative outlook for the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve, UK and US growth and inflation, and UK political and fiscal news.
Most activity happens during London hours. UK data is typically released at 7:00 a.m. London time, and Bank of England decisions at 12:00 p.m. London time.
What moves GBP/USD
Common drivers. None of them determine price on their own.
- BoE vs. Fed
- Relative rate expectations, driven by UK CPI, wage data and BoE guidance on one side and US data on the other.
- UK fiscal news
- Budgets and gilt-market stress have produced sharp sterling moves in the past.
- US data
- Payrolls, CPI and FOMC outcomes move the dollar side.
GBP/USD trading hours
Regular schedules in US Eastern time unless noted. Holidays and early closes are not shown.
| Venue | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spot FX | Sun 5:00 p.m. – Fri 5:00 p.m. ET (24 hours on weekdays) | — |
| Most active window | London session, approx. 3:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET | — |
| CME pound futures | Sun–Fri 6:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET (daily 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET break) | — |
Economic events that matter for GBP/USD
Why each release can move this market. Reactions depend on the surprise versus expectations and on the backdrop.
| Event | Why it can matter for GBP/USD |
|---|---|
| FOMC Next: | Cable trades on the gap between expected Fed and Bank of England policy, so a Fed surprise moves one side of that comparison directly. |
| NFP Next: | Jobs-report surprises move US yields and the dollar broadly; GBP/USD often moves in the same direction as EUR/USD, though often by a different amount. |
| CPI Next: | A US inflation surprise shifts expected Fed policy relative to the Bank of England, moving the rate differential that GBP/USD tracks; UK data released the same week can offset it. |
Also scheduled: Bank of England decisions and UK inflation and jobs data drive the other side of the pair. They are not covered on this site.
GBP/USD FAQ
Why is GBP/USD called Cable?
In the 19th century, the sterling–dollar rate was transmitted across the Atlantic by telegraph cable. Traders still use the nickname.
When is GBP/USD most active?
During the London session and especially the London–New York overlap. UK data releases at 7:00 a.m. London time and US releases at 8:30 a.m. ET are common volatility points.