GBP/USD price today

The pound to dollar rate (GBP/USD) shows how many US dollars one British pound sterling is worth. After euro/dollar and dollar/yen, this currency pair is one of the most traded symbols in the forex market and is known for higher volatility and fast moves. On this page you can see the live GBP/USD rate, its candlestick chart and technical events, and further down you will learn about the history of this pair, the factors that affect it, the best trading hours in Tehran time and risk management tips.

What is the GBP/USD pair and why is it called "Cable"?

In GBP/USD, the pound is the base currency and the US dollar is the quote currency; so a figure of 1.2500 means one pound equals 1.25 dollars. A rise in this figure means the pound has strengthened against the dollar, and a fall means the dollar has become stronger.

Traders call this pair "Cable". The nickname dates back to the 19th century, when the pound-dollar exchange rate was transmitted between London and New York via the telegraph cable under the Atlantic Ocean. The pound sterling is the oldest currency in the world still in continuous use, and London remains the world's largest currency trading center; this is why GBP/USD has very high liquidity during European trading hours.

Do not confuse GBP/USD with the pound rate in the Iranian market. See the Toman rate of the pound at exchange offices on the pound price page and the Toman rate of the dollar on the dollar price page; the ratio of these two figures is usually close to the global GBP/USD, although the domestic market has its own supply and demand.

Factors affecting the pound to dollar rate

1. Monetary policy of the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve

The Bank of England (BoE) interest rate is set by the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and unlike many central banks, the number of votes for and against each decision is published. Sometimes this vote split alone moves the pound, even when the rate is unchanged, because it shows which way the committee is leaning. On the other side are the decisions of the US Federal Reserve, and the gap between expectations for these two banks shapes Cable's long-term direction. Compare current central bank rates on the global interest rates page.

2. UK and US economic data

UK consumer inflation (CPI), labor market data including the unemployment rate and wage growth, monthly and quarterly economic growth (GDP), retail sales and purchasing managers' indices (PMI) are the most important data on the pound side. On the dollar side, the non-farm payrolls report (NFP), US inflation and Federal Reserve decisions have a direct impact. Follow the release times of all of these in the Teagle economic calendar .

3. Politics and budget

The pound is sensitive to domestic political risks. The 2016 referendum on the UK leaving the European Union (Brexit) caused one of the sharpest falls in the pound's history, and the controversial fiscal package of autumn 2022 also pushed the pound to its all-time low against the dollar. Elections, budget announcements and trade disputes are still sources of pound volatility.

4. Global risk sentiment

In periods of fear and capital flight to safe-haven assets, the dollar usually strengthens, and the pound, as the currency of an economy reliant on financial services and running a current account deficit, feels more pressure.

The best time to trade GBP/USD

Cable is usually quiet during the Asian session and really comes alive when London opens. UK economic data is often released at 7 a.m. London time; that is around 9:30 a.m. Tehran time during European summer time and 10:30 in winter. The highest-volume window is the London–New York overlap: roughly 15:30 to 19:30 Tehran time in summer and 16:30 to 20:30 in winter.

See the exact hours of each market in Iran time on the global market hours page; daylight saving time changes in the UK and the US do not happen at the same time, so these windows shift for a few weeks each year.

Pip value and spread in GBP/USD

In GBP/USD, one pip equals 0.0001, and since the quote currency is the dollar, its value is fixed: 10 dollars for one standard lot (100,000 pounds), one dollar for 0.1 lot and 0.1 dollar for 0.01 lot. The key point is that Cable usually moves several dozen pips more than EUR/USD in a day; so with the same volume, your dollar profit and loss change faster, and your stop loss should match this volatility.

The GBP/USD spread at most brokers is slightly higher than euro/dollar and widens at the moment of news releases or during low-volume hours. Before entering, calculate the right volume with the trading calculator so the amount at risk is known in advance.

Cable's behavioral traits on the chart

• Sudden moves: The pound is known for "gaps" and sharp moves after news; breaking a key level in Cable is often accompanied by momentum and sometimes followed by a quick reversal.
• Sensitivity to psychological levels: Round numbers such as 1.2000 or 1.3000 attract clusters of orders, and price reactions are usually seen around them.
• London morning breakouts: Many traders mark the Asian session range and follow its breakout in the first hours of London; this pattern is not guaranteed and false breakouts are common.

The "Technical events" section of this page summarizes recent indicator signals for this symbol; for a closer look, view the candlestick chart at the top of the page in different timeframes.

GBP/USD correlation with other symbols

• Euro to dollar (EUR/USD): has a positive and usually strong correlation, because both are measured against the dollar. Opening buy positions in both at the same time effectively doubles the risk.
• Euro to pound (EUR/GBP): When the pound moves because of UK domestic news, EUR/GBP moves opposite to Cable; this pair shows whether a move comes from "pound strength" or "dollar weakness".
• Pound to yen (GBP/JPY): repeats part of Cable's movement with far greater volatility.

Risk management tips for trading pound/dollar

• Adjust volume to volatility: If you have come to Cable from EUR/USD, do not trade with the same volume; a wider range of movement means a more distant stop loss and a smaller volume.
• Bank of England decision days and UK inflation releases: At these moments the spread widens and slippage is common; beginner traders are better off staying on the sidelines.
• Don't forget swap: Holding a position overnight carries a cost or income depending on the interest rate differential between the two countries.
• Choose your broker carefully: For Iranian traders, access, deposit and withdrawal methods and the broker's regulation status matter as much as the spread. Make your comparison in forex broker reviews .

To see other currency pairs, open the full list of forex market symbols . The information on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell; the displayed rate comes from market data sources and may differ slightly from your broker's price. Trading with leverage carries high risk and you may lose some or all of your capital.