GBP/USD (Cable): a guide to the pound-dollar pair
Updated 2026-09-20
What GBP/USD is, why it's called Cable, what moves it, best hours, volatility and correlations.
What it is
GBP/USD, called "Cable", compares the British pound with the US dollar. It is a very liquid major, more volatile than EUR/USD, with daily moves often larger.
What moves it
- Bank of England decisions and the MPC vote
- UK inflation, wages and growth
- Fed policy and US data (NFP, CPI)
- British political and economic news
When to trade it
The best moment is the London open and the overlap with New York. It has higher volatility than EUR/USD: stops should be sized with the ATR and size reduced accordingly.
Costs and correlations
The pip is worth about $10 per standard lot with a dollar account; the spread is slightly higher than EUR/USD. It is positively correlated with EUR/USD: two trades are largely the same idea on the dollar.
Live chart
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Cable?
The name comes from the transatlantic telegraph cable through which, in the 19th century, quotes were transmitted between London and New York.
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Educational content, not financial advice. Trading involves risk.