THE pound has risen today against the US dollar and euro afters the UK and the EU sign a historic Brexit trade deal.
The pound was up by two cents versus the US dollar at just over $1.36 at around on Thursday ahead of an announcement, and climbed a cent versus the euro to just above €1.11.
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It had dropped slightly to $1.35 and €1.11 as an expected address from the Prime Minister was pushed back from this morning.
The FTSE 100 also finished up for the day as trading stopped early at 12:30pm ahead of the Christmas break.
It rose by 0.3% shortly after 8am – up 3% on the start of the week – but the gains fell to 0.1% this afternoon.
It came as:
- There was an eleventh hour row about protections for the UK car industry – which appeared to have been resolved
- Pizza was delivered to the Berlaymont HQ in Brussels late last night as crunch talks continued
- The pound soared against the dollar last night on hopes of a deal
- Already Brexiteers were grumbling about not having enough time to analyse the deal when it comes back to MPs
- Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to urge his shadow cabinet to back a Brexit trade deal – and could hold a meeting later today to get their backing
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Sterling was pummelled earlier this week as countries around the world imposed travel bans against the UK over fears a mutant strain of coronavirus.
Imposing tougher Covid restrictions on London and parts of the South East of England over the weekend also played a part.
On Monday, sterling plummeted to $1.32 against the US dollar and €1.08 against the euro after Christmas was cancelled for millions.
On December 17, the pound peaked at $1.35 and €1.11.
MUG strategist Lee Hardman, said yesterday: “The market is anticipating that a deal will be agreed in the next day or two,” adding that sterling could strengthen to $1.36/$1.37, Sky News reports.
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He said, however, that traders would be keen to see details of any agreement, given that any specifics of a deal will likely only be thrashed out in 2021.
He added: “The best case scenario for the pound would be if we also see details released from the EU and UK side of things alongside the deal to try and reduce the initial disruption when we shift to a new trading arrangement.”
Officials on both sides are hopeful a deal could have been announced as early as this morning, as talks over a compromise on fishing gathered pace.
EU officials have told member states to prepare for a meeting this morning if a deal is signed off – boosting hopes of an agreement within hours.
One UK source said last night: “No white smoke just yet but they turned up with matches today.”
Another source added: “We’re not far off”.
Eurasia Group managing director Mujtaba Rahman told clients: “On process, the commission is very keen to strike a deal by tomorrow evening at the latest, as it fears it will otherwise be difficult to even provisionally apply a deal for January 1.”
But British retailers remain less certain of their future.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said: “The light at the end of the tunnel seems further than ever and many retailers – who are losing billions in sales with each passing week – will struggle under the new wave of closures.”
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She added: “The industry would rather trade its way to recovery, but this has now been curtailed by the extended Tier 4 restrictions.
“The time for debating future business rates relief is over, it is now an imperative.
“The Government must announce targeted relief beyond April for those retailers who are suffering under the impact of repeated closures, or else be prepared for further shop closures and job losses in the New Year.”
Govt close to Christmas Brexit deal as British and EU negotiators say agreement ‘in sight’
