Many UK releases — GDP, CPI on some months, retail sales, public finances — come out at 07:00 London time, an hour before the main London open. Liquidity at that time is thinner than later in the morning.
What that means:
Spreads on GBP pairs are wider at 07:00 than at 08:30.
The first reaction can be exaggerated and partially retraced once more participants arrive.
Stops placed overnight near current price are vulnerable.
Approaches:
Stay flat in GBP pairs until a few minutes after the release.
Use the post-release range (07:00–08:00) as the reference range for the London session.
Compare GBPUSD with EURGBP: a move in both confirms a GBP-specific reaction.
Do you trade UK releases at 07:00, or wait for the full London session?
I treat 07:00 UK prints as a separate session from the 08:00 London open. Spreads on GBPUSD last month averaged near 1.4 pips at the release versus about 0.6 by 08:15, which already eats a tight scalp target.
My default is flat until two minutes after the print, then I mark the 07:00 to 08:00 high and low as the London reference range. Chasing the first spike has been negative for me on GDP and retail sales more often than not.
Comparing GBPUSD with EURGBP is the confirmation step I will not skip. If cable drops but EURGBP is flat, I assume a dollar move and leave GBP alone.
Overnight stops parked near price are the silent cost. I now pull them 8 to 12 pips wider before a known 07:00 release or flatten entirely.
Do you ever take the first reaction live, or is waiting for the full London desk your fixed rule? Mine stays wait unless the print is a pure miss I already mapped.
