Pound collapses as MPs resign

The most tumultuous day in British Politics in a generation ended with Prime Minister Theresa May battered and bruised but showing defiance as her draft Brexit agreement was left in tatters.

In a speech in which she reiterated her belief that the draft agreement “delivers what people voted for”, Mrs. May vowed to see the job through to the end commenting that “I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people.” The question is whether her Party will allow her to remain in power.

There was a flurry of letters calling for a vote of no confidence yesterday; forty-eight are needed to force a vote. It is understood that one of the more senior members of the Cabinet, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, is considering his position. Mrs. May apparently offered him the “poisoned chalice” of the Brexit Secretary job and he refused since he wouldn’t have been allowed to renegotiate the deal.

Where we go from here is out of Mrs. May’s hands but it is likely to be another chaotic day at Westminster, with the pound reacting accordingly.

A turbulent day for the pound which bordered on the disorderly began with the resignation of Dominic Raab as Brexit Minister citing his view that the agreement had “fatal flaws”. He was followed by Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and two more junior ministers.

The pound had opened in Europe at 1.3011 damaged by the wider reaction to the draft agreement but supported by the end of the Cabinet meeting the previous evening at which a “consensus” had been reached. That consensus lasted even less time than the Chequers consensus and Raab’s resignation in time for the 9:00 AM news bulletins began a precipitous fall for the pound which reached a low of 1.2723. A bout of profit-taking from short-term traders saw it recover a little, closing at 1.2778.

Lost in the political melting pot was a poor set of results for retail sales. Apparently hit by an unseasonably warm Autumn but more likely a consumer reaction to Brexit, retail sales fell by 0.5% in October contributing to a year on year rise of just 2.2%.

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Salvini aide hints at even more radical actions

There is a story circulating this morning that the chief economic aid to the Deputy Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini has made a comment that should Sr. Salvini’s Northern League Party win the next General Election, Italy would leave the Eurozone. This has so far been unsubstantiated and is not necessarily Salvini’s view but if it were to be true, it would bring chaos to Brussels with the possible breakup of the single currency.

So far, Rome’s defiance of the EU Commission’s demand that it amends the 2019 budget has fallen on deaf ears. Rome is insisting its budget deficit of 2.4% of GDP for the coming year and growth projected at 1.5% is essential to “kick start” the Italian economy. Brussels argues that the structural deficit will increase by 0.8% when the previous Government had agreed to a reduction of 0.6%.

Rome claims that privatizations will be increased which will add to the deficit reduction. Brussels remains dubious and demands facts, not claims.

The single currency had a volatile day yesterday, reacting to the Brexit furor. It had a range of 1.1362/1.1270 closing at 1.1332, just ten pips above its opening level.

While the Italian crisis and Brexit roll on, the euro will remain under pressure as the European Commission and ECB appear powerless to find an answer.

Powell to disregard global economy; for now

In a speech yesterday which hinted at further isolationism, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell referred to the slowdown in the global economy as evidenced by a contraction in German Q3 GDP. However, he also stated that his policy of rate hikes in the U.S. would continue unchanged into 2019 given the strength of the U.S. economy.

With the ECB still dovish in its outlook, possibly even more so, as region-wide GDP is about to be released, and the UK is in disarray, the next G7 meeting may see the U.S. even more isolated over the global economy than it has been over climate change and Iran sanctions.

If a global slowdown leads to an emerging market equity crisis, continued dollar strength will simply exacerbate the problems. Throughout the summer as the dollar rallied, it was the single currency that appeared to be reactive but as the issues facing both the UK and Eurozone have come to the fore, it is the dollar that has taken on that role.

As the new Congress begins and President Trump starts to feel the pressure of a Democrat led House of Representatives, that will change again with all three currencies vying for the title of most volatile.