UPDATE 2-Sterling tumbles after reports of Brexit talks close to breakdown
- Country:
- United Kingdom
Sterling touched a one-month low against the euro on Tuesday as investors took fright at reports that Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union were close to breaking down.
With 23 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the bloc, there is no sign the impasse between London and Brussels could be bridged and both sides are jostling to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit. Britain's proposals to replace the Irish "backstop" - an insurance policy to keep the border open between the Republic of Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland - have been rebuffed by EU leaders.
The pound tumbled on Tuesday after a Downing Street source said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had spoken and that she had made clear a deal was "overwhelmingly unlikely". The source said that if the call represented a new position, it meant a deal was impossible "not just now but ever".
European Council President Tusk accused Johnson of playing "some stupid blame game". By 1215 GMT, the pound was down 0.5% at $1.2226, having earlier threatened to fall below the $1.22 mark. It weakened more than 0.7% against the euro, touching a low of 89.95 pence - its weakest since Sept. 9.
"The pound has taken a lurch lower as (reports say) there is no prospect of a deal," said Michael Hewson, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. But he noted that a law passed last month by parliament requires Johnson to seek a delay to Brexit if a deal with the EU has not been agreed by Oct. 19.
"(Sterling) is reacting to the newsflow, which is negative. But at some point it has to react to the reality, which is that there will be an extension and elections," Hewson added. The opposition Labour party called for lawmakers in parliament to unite to prevent a no-deal Brexit taking place at the end of October.
Analysts say a Brexit delay leading to a UK election has already been priced in as the most probable outcome. There are also signs that markets are not overly perturbed by the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. While Johnson has repeatedly vowed to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 even without a divorce deal in place, sterling-dollar implied volatility gauges maturing around the deadline were little affected by the pound's moves.
However, data has repeatedly highlighted the extent of potential damage from a no-deal Brexit. A report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies published on Tuesday said leaving without a deal could double Britain's budget deficit to around 100 billion pounds ($123 billion). The political jitters, and signs of economic deterioration fuelled a rally in British government bonds, with 10-year yields slipping almost 4 basis points to 0.41%, the lowest since early-September
Also Read: Hungary will remain part of the European Union, PM Orban says
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
US STOCKS-Nasdaq set for higher open as fresh inflation data allays rate jitters
US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Wall St opens higher as fresh inflation data allays rate jitters
Europe's STOXX nears six-week low amid geopolitical jitters; Ericsson shines
Europe's STOXX 600 slides in broader market decline on geopolitical jitters
US STOCKS-Wall St recovers from Friday's sell-off amid Mideast jitters