Sterling rallies on report Brexit agreement will include UK customs deal
Monday,
05-Nov-2018
04:08 PM (IST)
Sterling rallied on Monday after a Sunday Times report said Britain was nearing a deal for leaving the European Union and that an all-UK customs arrangement would be part of it.With talks at an impasse five months before Britain exits the European Union, investors are growing anxious and sterling is moving sharply on any news of a possible breakthrough.The currency has faltered in seven of the 10 months of this year so far, losing as much as 3.6 percent.But it traded up 0.3 percent on Monday to reach a 10-day high versus the dollar of $1.3065 . Versus the euro it climbed to 87.33 pence, its highest since Oct. 11.The currency was lifted by a report over the weekend that said an all-UK customs deal will be written into the legally binding agreement governing Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.The pound enjoyed its best day of the year against the dollar on Thursday.It was aided by optimism for a Brexit deal and after the Bank of England signaled more interest rate hikes could be on the way if Britain's exit from the European Union is smooth.An agreement with Brussels on the terms of divorce would remove a major uncertainty overshadowing the economy and the BoE as it tries to curb inflation.The British government and EU officials have this week played down hopes for an imminent Brexit deal, emphasising that while an agreement is close the two sides still have work to do.Any agreement with Brussels would then need to win approval from British parliamentarians before Britain's scheduled departure date of March 29, a far from easy process given factions with Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party oppose her proposals for a Brexit agreement.
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