GBP/USD Prints Above $1.6230 as ISM Manufacturing Misses Big

Talking Points:

- US ISM Manufacturing (SEP) reading came in short at 56.6 actual vs 58.5 estimated.

- Manufacturers eye costs as ISM Prices Paid (SEP) reading comes in above expectation.

- US Construction Spending contracts to -0.8% m/m.

The headline September US ISM Manufacturing reading fell to 56.6 from a prior reading of 59.0 in August, for the first slip since the June 30 release. An economist with the Institute of Supply Management, the firm that released the report, referred to the changes in ISM numbers as geopolitical risk gaining a voice in the September manufacturing data. The ISM’s Holcomb also stated that a little cooling in production is not a concern.

The Prices Paid component of the report came in above expectations at 58.5 versus a 56.6 consensus estimate. An increase in business performance could also be attributed to geopolitical unrest and a slower pace of the current charge of the recovering economy.

US Construction Spending contracted to -0.8% versus +0.5% expected, on a monthly basis. According to data specifics provided at the release: August US private non-residential construction fell -1.4%, which could have been a large contributing factor to the overall disappointing headline reading.

Here’s a summary of the data this morning that’s stoked the US Dollar pullback:

- USD ISM Manufacturing (SEP): 56.6 versus 58.5 expected, from 59.0.

- USD ISM Prices Paid (SEP): 59.5 versus 57.0 expected, from 58.0.

- USD Construction Spending (AUG): -0.8% versus +0.5% expected, from +1.2% (revised from +1.8%).

See the DailyFX economic calendar for Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

GBPUSD 1-minute Chart: October 1, 2014 Intraday

Charts Created using Marketscope – prepared by Tyler Amend

GBPUSD charged to $1.6237 on the back of the weaker than expected manufacturing data out of the United States. The negative readings caused a falter in the bullish onslaught of the USD; however, much of the Sterling gains have been retaken by the dollar in the aftermath following the data release. GBPUSD was trading around $1.6213 at the time of this report.

Read more: Aussie Weakness via AUD/USD, EUR/AUD, GBP/AUD Driven by Data, Techs

— Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Strategist and Tyler Amend, DailyFX Research

To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com

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GBP/USD Prints Above $1.6230 as ISM Manufacturing Misses Big