April 10 (Reuters) - There is a growing threat of a move lower in sterling versus the dollar, potentially ending a five-day bull run.

That threat is becoming more visible across moving-average structures. The 50-day moving average is poised to cross below both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages. The 50-DMA sits just four pips above the 100-day average and nine pips above the more significant 200-DMA, leaving the market on the verge of a death cross.

A death cross in technical analysis is a bearish chart signal that occurs when a shorter-term moving average crosses below a longer-term moving average. Most commonly, it means the 50-day moving average falls below the 200-day moving average. Traders often interpret it as a sign that momentum may be weakening and that a downtrend could develop.

GBP/USD is also being weighed down by a thickening and falling daily Ichimoku cloud. The cloud base is close to the market price, currently at 1.3475. Sterling has been trading below the Ichimoku cloud on a closing basis since March 2.

The bias is bearish on Friday, and should GBP/USD close the week in negative territory, more downside pressure is likely to emerge next week. The main downside targets are 1.3322, the daily Ichimoku kijun-sen, and 1.3160, the March 31 low.
GBP/USD daily chart:


(Peter Stoneham is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)