TALKING POINTS – BREXIT, BRITISH POUND, BANK OF ENGLAND, CARNEY
- BOE’s Brexit analysis, FSR report may weigh on the British Pound[1]
- Yen down, Aussie and NZ Dollars up on hopeful G20 summit outlook
- Canadian Dollar[2] lower with local yields as BOC rate hike bets cool
The Bank of England is in focus in European trading hours. It will publish its Financial Stability Report (FSR), which will include stress test result for major UK lenders. The central bank’s analysis of the economic impact of a range of Brexit scenarios is also on offer. Governor Mark Carney will hold a press conference to explain the content on offer.
These updates come at a critical time as UK Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to rally support for the Brexit deal she negotiated with Brussels. Parliament will vote on her proposal on December 11. If it fails, there is almost certainly insufficient time to craft a replacement by a March 29 deadline, opening the door for a “no-deal” rupture.
With that in mind, a credible assessment of Ms May’s proposal relative to its alternatives as well as the resilience of the UK financial system in the event that whatever outcome rattles markets may prove pivotal. A similar work-up from a group of prominent think tank economists rattled markets yesterday[3]. If the central bank’s view is similarly sobering, the British Pound seems likely to suffer.
YEN DOWN, AUSSIE DOLLAR UP ON HOPEFUL G20 OUTLOOK
A cautiously risk-on mood prevailed in Asia Pacific trade. The Australian and New Zealand Dollars rose alongside local shares while the anti-risk Japanese Yen[4] tracked
