Currency Note

Parliament rejects 12th December election

By Christopher Nye October 29th, 2019

It was a choppy day for the pound yesterday, up following the granting of a three-month Brexit extension. However, the government’s motion for a 12th December election were rejected yesterday, as they failed to get a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons. This doesn’t mean that an election is off the cards, however, as the Prime Minister has said that he will try for a fourth time to propose an early poll.

Yesterday, the EU agreed to a longer, three-month extension until 31st January, despite reported opposition from France.

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GBP: Government’s motion for 12th December election rejected

The pound ended yesterday on a choppy note, as Parliament rejected the government’s motion for a 12th December general election, gathering just 299 votes in favour. One could well still be forthcoming, however, with the SNP and Lib Dems calling for 9th December. The Prime Minister has also said that he will try for a fourth time to secure an early election – this time through publishing a bill that will only need a simple majority to succeed, rather than the two thirds required previously. A bill is expected to be tabled today to allow this to happen.

It was a quiet day for economic releases, but CBI distributive trade balance rose for the third month running, although still in the negative and beating market expectations of a drop. Nonetheless, sales are still poor for this time of year.

Today, we will see housing price figures, mortgage approvals and consumer credit, and it will be interesting to see how the proximity to the now-delayed Brexit deadline has impacted them.

From To

 

EUR: EU agrees to three-month ‘flextension’ until 31st January

The EU has agreed to a three-month so-called ‘flextension’ to Brexit, by which terms the UK can leave at any point before that date if a deal is agreed. This came despite French opposition to a longer extension, which was favoured by countries closely linked to the UK economy, like Ireland.

In his final speech to the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi has called for unity among policymakers, following a spilling into the public arena of disputes over his policy of returning to QE. As he passes on his position to Christine Lagarde, Draghi considered the successes of the ECB, arguing yesterday that ‘public trust in the euro has risen to its highest level ever…[and]…policymakers are reaffirming the euro is irreversible.’ Nonetheless, in a climate of a global slowdown, Christine Lagarde will have a number of challenges to deal with immediately as she assumes the position.

USD: S&P500 hits record high

The dollar ended the day down against the pound, as the latter was buoyed by a Brexit extension. The US’s goods trade deficit shrank to USD 70.4 billion, as imports declined 2.3 percent month-on-month.

The S&P500 hit a record high, rising 0.6%, with Donald Trump tweeting that it was ‘a big win for jobs, 401-K’s, and, frankly, EVERYONE!’

The greenback awaits the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates, which will take place tomorrow.

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