020 7898 0500A Guide to the 2020 US Election
The Presidential Election took place on the 3rd of November. After two contentious debates and a surge in early voting, it’s shaping up to be a very interesting election, to say the least. Votes continue to be counted across the country.
In this guide, we take you through the key moments to look out for, how currencies could be impacted and what you can do to protect your business from currency fluctuations.
How could currency pairs react?
Our view of the possible market reactions:
Biden Win
Trump Win
GBP/USD
Could strengthen if Biden pursues corporate tax plan, financial re-regulation, tougher restrictions on oil from shale and minimum-wage hikes. Biden will adopt a less Brexit friendly approach which could trim potential gains.
GBP/USD
Weaker if Trump’s aggressive trade protectionism continues, but not drastically lower as Trump will have a friendlier view on UK/US trade deal.
EUR/USD
Could strengthen if Biden pursues corporate tax plan, financial re-regulation, tougher restrictions on oil from shale and minimum-wage hikes. EUR also to benefit as alternative reserve currency if inflationary policies adopted by via deficit spending.
EUR/USD
Lower on renewed trade tensions and continued de-regulation as well as America first programme.
GBP/EUR
Muted movement, but EUR could benefit on a less friendly Brexit stance.
GBP/EUR
Muted movement, but GBP could benefit on a friendlier Brexit stance.
Stock Markets
Mostly priced in, but corporate tax plan could work against equities, only offset by a generous spending programme affecting lower income households.
Stock Markets
This could be a repeat of 2017 rally as Trump is committed to re-opening the economy at a faster pace. Release of Covid-19 vaccine will be accelerated as Trump has promised this before year end.
How could currency pairs react?
Our view of the possible market reactions:
Biden Win
GBP/USD
Could strengthen if Biden pursues corporate tax plan, financial re-regulation, tougher restrictions on oil from shale and minimum-wage hikes. Biden will adopt a less Brexit friendly approach which could trim potential gains.
EUR/USD
Could strengthen if Biden pursues corporate tax plan, financial re-regulation, tougher restrictions on oil from shale and minimum-wage hikes. EUR also to benefit as alternative reserve currency if inflationary policies adopted by via deficit spending.
GBP/EUR
Muted movement, but EUR could benefit on a less friendly Brexit stance.
Stock Markets
Mostly priced in, but corporate tax plan could work against equities, only offset by a generous spending programme affecting lower income households.
Trump Win
GBP/USD
Weaker if Trump’s aggressive trade protectionism continues, but not drastically lower as Trump will have a friendlier view on UK/US trade deal.
EUR/USD
Lower on renewed trade tensions and continued de-regulation as well as America first programme.
GBP/EUR
Muted movement, but GBP could benefit on a friendlier Brexit stance.
Stock Markets
This could be a repeat of 2017 rally as Trump is committed to re-opening the economy at a faster pace. Release of Covid-19 vaccine will be accelerated as Trump has promised this before year end.
Estimated Electoral College votes
This chart from The Economist now points to a 95% likelihood of a Biden win as of 03.11.20. However, we know from the previous election that the result could still go either way.
Source: https://projects.economist.com/us-2020-forecast/president
Election Timeline
We’ve outlined key timings for the election day and subsequent events.
November 3 (Election Day):
We focus on closing poll times for key contested (‘swing’) states.
- Polling hours (all times given are in Eastern Standard Time(EST), or GMT−05:00):
- 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (GMT 11:00-17:00): Polls open across the 50 states.
- 7:00 p.m. (GMT 00:00): Polls close in the Eastern Time Zone sections of Florida
- 7:30 p.m. (GMT 00:30): Polls close in North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia
- 8:00 p.m. (GMT 1:00): Polls close in the Eastern Time Zone sections of Michigan, the Central Time Zone sections of Florida and Pennsylvania
- 9:00 p.m. (GMT 2:00): Polls close in the Central Time Zone sections of Michigan and all of Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
- 11:00 p.m. (GMT 4:00): As per the long-standing agreement, this is the earliest that the media can declare if there is a President and Vice President-elect.
November 4:
- 9:00 a.m. (GMT 14:00): Counting of absentee/mail-in ballots begins in many states.
December 2020
- December 8: The “safe harbor” deadline under the Electoral Count Act, where states must finally resolve any controversies over the selection of their electors of the Electoral College.
- December 14: The electors meet in their respective state capitals(electors for the District of Columbia meet within the district) to formally vote for the president and vice president.
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