FX markets have begun their first proper trading day secure in the knowledge that the United Kingdom will have a trade deal above WTO standards with respect to the EU-27 come 1st January. So far there hasn’t been a huge sigh of relief evident within the Pound but it is evident that, in combination with Trump signing a fiscal stimulus bill to prevent US government lockdown, markets are embracing less defensive conditions this morning. The Pound did rally upon confirmation of a deal on Thursday afternoon. However, upward momentum was capped and prices ultimately rejected it seems at 1.36/1.115 versus the Dollar and Euro respectively.
The lacklustre move in the Pound comes down to two things. Firstly, the prospect of a deal was largely priced in with the real risks to GBP pricing lurking towards the downside should a no-deal have materialised. Despite GBP being off of its Thursday highs, in comparison with where we might have been trading this morning should a no-deal have become apparent last week, GBP is solid. The second reason is that the deal itself is a hard form of Brexit and provides for tariff free (and limits thin non-tariff barriers to) trade only. The deal does not cover services, including financial services. The deal also makes no attempt to preserve elements of the customs Union and single market that are supportive of economic growth.
The market this morning is also taking note of astronomically high rates of coronavirus infection in the UK and reports that hospital admissions are higher than those in the first wave. With much of the UK already in the highest tier of infection, the expectation of a bumpy road ahead with respect to the health crisis and its knock on implications upon the economy have GBP on the back foot. The deal should still, however, provide a positive backdrop for Sterling for some time to come. The deal whilst not being what all may have hoped for does provide an immensely important legal backdrop and starting point upon which to shape UK trade with respect to the Union whilst respecting the result of the 2016 vote.
Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter
Click Here to Subscribe to the SGM-FX Newsletter
Related Insights
Daily Brief – Oil Price
Humphrey Percy
Fri 2 May 2025
Oil Price Pre TT or Trump Tariffs, the oil price seesawed around but mostly reverted to its mean over a few trading sessions unless a major piece of economic, political or trade news arose. All that has gone out of the window with steady declines in session after session, so in case you have been […]
Daily Brief – Stagflation USA
Humphrey Percy
Fri 9 May 2025
Stagflation USA This is the spectre confronting Federal Reserve Chair Powell and the wider USA. It is unusual simultaneously to have both rising unemployment and higher prices with the consequence of rising inflation, but that is where the USA stands today, in the face of the TT or Trump tariffs. Unsurprisingly, despite POTUS offering his […]
Daily Brief – Asia on Fire
Humphrey Percy
Wed 7 May 2025
Asia on Fire The TWD or Taiwan Dollar has scarcely featured in most FX traders’ consciousness until the past four weeks, when the NTD has roared up over 10%. The Korean Won has managed a respectable 6%, the Thai Baht and the Malaysian Ringgit 5% and the Singapore Dollar 4%. So what’s behind it? The […]
