Unaccustomed Union:
The direction to markets today has been clear: Brexit is looking good and the Dollar’s rivals are back. With the Pound and the Euro both respectively seeing enormous bids on the back of Brexit progress, the Dollar has lost some of the traction that has made it the trade of 2018. The Irish government has spoken officially, giving weight and credibility to May’s proposed solution to the Irish border; perhaps the greatest sticking point in negotiations besides the bill! The Republic suggested it would allow a complete customs union between the EU and the UK, affording May’s extant plans greater credibility. The Pound rallied magnificently, breaking through 1.13 against an admirably performing Euro and confidently surpassing 1.30 against an ailing Dollar. Ahead of a pivotal EU summit this month, Ireland’s concession is important, removing one of the obstacles that the UK could face before the European Council. Emerging market sell offs are prevalent within equity markets, yet downward pressure is still evident within the Rand and the Lira. Non-farm payroll data is released tomorrow afternoon, with all eyes on the performance of the domestic US economy.
Since Market Open:
Discussion and Analysis by Charles Porter
Bank of England As expected the BoE cut interest rates by 25bps yesterday. So far so good but then the BoE departed from the script. Flat economic growth up until the end of 2024 was less of a surprise but then a new forecast for inflation +3.7% and 2025 economic growth slashed from 1.5% to […]
Not another headline Markets have either grown complacent or are reading beyond Trump’s headline statements. Over the past week markets have been presented with the challenge of fresh tariffs on China with retaliatory tariffs on the US also due to come into force in just under a week. In addition to that they have the […]
German Election With just 18 days to go to the German election, tensions are building. The centre right CDU whose leader Friedrich Merz is likely to be the next Chancellor is under fire for proposing a tougher immigration policy. That says his critics is similar to the far right AFD and verboten given the antipathy […]