LONDON MARKETS: Pound, FTSE 100 Steady After Brexit-vote Delay
October 21 2019 - 5:22AM
Dow Jones News
By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
Banks rise on belief no-deal Brexit can be avoided
The British pound shook off early losses and moved higher, while
U.K. stocks flattened out Monday, after lawmakers in the country
voted to ask for a Brexit-deadline delay over the weekend.
Paring earlier losses, the pound flattened against the dollar to
$1.2982 versus $1.2974 seen late Friday in North American trading.
A 5.8% gain in October has kept the pound near levels not seen
since May. The FTSE-100 meanwhile, was flat at 7,146.68.
Opinion:Johnson lost again. But his Brexit deal is likely to
succeed
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/johnson-lost-again-but-his-brexit-deal-is-likely-to-succeed-2019-10-19)
After a crucial Parliamentary vote failed to get off the ground
on Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to send a
letter to the EU asking for a three-month Brexit delay. Johnson,
who is opposed to any delay, is expected to try to win
parliamentary approval for his plan on Monday as the Oct. 31 Brexit
deadline draws nearer.
Goldman Sachs analysts said they expect the deal will eventually
pass, and for that reason see the pound rallying to $1.35
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/goldman-sachs-says-pound-could-hit-135-as-risk-of-no-deal-brexit-fades-2019-10-21),
though others were more cautious.
"So far, pound traders are content that a disorderly Brexit will
likely be avoided in two weeks. Yet an early general election and
maybe another Brexit referendum are on the U.K.'s political agenda
for the coming months," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market
analyst, told clients in a note.
Read: So what's next after the U.K. parliament's non-vote on
Brexit?
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/so-whats-next-after-the-uk-parliaments-non-vote-on-brexit-2019-10-19)
As for stocks, the analyst said ongoing Brexit uncertainties
could trigger volatility as that end-month deadline nears. And
"small, midcap stocks would be more exposed than the blue-chip
stocks which benefit from dollar denominated revenues," said
Ozkardeskaya.
Banking stocks led the gain, which analysts attributed to a
belief that a no-deal Brexit would be averted. Barclays PLC
(BARC.LN) rose 1.2% and Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LLOY.LN)
(LLOY.LN) rose near 3%. Shares of Prudential PLC (PRU.LN) tumbled
10%.
Shares of Smith & Nephew PLC (SN.LN) slid nearly 5% after
the medical device maker said Chief Executive Namal Nawana will
step down at the end of the month and be succeeded by Roland
Diggelmann.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 21, 2019 05:07 ET (09:07 GMT)
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