This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46219038
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Pound and UK shares hit by Brexit turmoil | Pound and UK shares hit by Brexit turmoil |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The pound and shares in housebuilders and banks have fallen sharply after cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey quit over Prime Minister Theresa May's draft Brexit deal. | |
| Royal Bank of Scotland sank 9%, with 7% falls for Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments. | |
| Sterling fell 1.7% against the dollar and 1.9% against the euro. | |
| While the FTSE 100 index was little moved, the FTSE 250, which mainly comprises UK-focused firms, fell 1.6%. | |
| Capita topped the fallers in the FTSE 250, plunging 14%, with housebuilder Redrow down 7%. | |
| Why have shares tumbled? | Why have shares tumbled? |
| Laith Khalaf at Hargreaves Lansdown commented: "The market has taken a big red pen to stocks which are heavily exposed to the UK economy like the banks, retailers and housebuilders. | Laith Khalaf at Hargreaves Lansdown commented: "The market has taken a big red pen to stocks which are heavily exposed to the UK economy like the banks, retailers and housebuilders. |
| "These sectors were already under pressure, but the potential for an orderly Brexit to unravel in the next few days is causing further distress to be manifested in share prices." | "These sectors were already under pressure, but the potential for an orderly Brexit to unravel in the next few days is causing further distress to be manifested in share prices." |
| BBC business editor Simon Jack said: "The odds of a general election have just gone up and that means the possibility of a Corbyn government must have increased as well. | BBC business editor Simon Jack said: "The odds of a general election have just gone up and that means the possibility of a Corbyn government must have increased as well. |
| "Markets don't like the prospect of that because of Labour's intention to raise taxes on companies and nationalise large sections of the economy." | "Markets don't like the prospect of that because of Labour's intention to raise taxes on companies and nationalise large sections of the economy." |
| What's happened to the pound? | What's happened to the pound? |
| Sterling ended the day in London at under $1.28 against the dollar in turbulent trading, following a string of ministerial resignations over Mrs May's Brexit deal, led by Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey. | |
| Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, Brexit minister Suella Braverman and parliamentary private secretaries Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Ranil Jayawardena also quit. | Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, Brexit minister Suella Braverman and parliamentary private secretaries Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Ranil Jayawardena also quit. |
| On Wednesday, Theresa May secured Cabinet backing for the draft Brexit agreement with Brussels, which business had generally welcomed as it would avoid the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. | On Wednesday, Theresa May secured Cabinet backing for the draft Brexit agreement with Brussels, which business had generally welcomed as it would avoid the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. |
| Pound vs US dollar | Pound vs US dollar |
| How has Brexit affected the pound's volatility? | How has Brexit affected the pound's volatility? |
| The Brexit process has been punctuated by big movements in the pound's relationship with the dollar, something which can lead to big gains or losses for investors. | The Brexit process has been punctuated by big movements in the pound's relationship with the dollar, something which can lead to big gains or losses for investors. |
| In the run up to and immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016, for example, the pound hit a peak of volatility against the dollar amid enormous uncertainty about the future. | In the run up to and immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016, for example, the pound hit a peak of volatility against the dollar amid enormous uncertainty about the future. |
| And as the graphic below shows, the events surrounding Wednesday's draft agreement has triggered the greatest volatility for sterling since the referendum. | And as the graphic below shows, the events surrounding Wednesday's draft agreement has triggered the greatest volatility for sterling since the referendum. |
| What do the currency strategists say? | What do the currency strategists say? |
| Jane Foley at Rabobank said the pound's plunge was "firmly tied" to the perception that Mrs May will have difficulty in pushing the Brexit plan through Parliament. | Jane Foley at Rabobank said the pound's plunge was "firmly tied" to the perception that Mrs May will have difficulty in pushing the Brexit plan through Parliament. |
| She said the resignations had emphasised speculation that the prime minister could face a no-confidence vote: "A lack of parliamentary approval for the deal or a hard Brexit would both weigh heavily on the pound. Any turn of events that could raise the risk of a general election would also punish the pound, given the risk of a market-unfriendly far-left government." | She said the resignations had emphasised speculation that the prime minister could face a no-confidence vote: "A lack of parliamentary approval for the deal or a hard Brexit would both weigh heavily on the pound. Any turn of events that could raise the risk of a general election would also punish the pound, given the risk of a market-unfriendly far-left government." |
| Chris Turner at ING said Mr Raab's resignation had increased the chances of a leadership challenge and a no-deal Brexit. | Chris Turner at ING said Mr Raab's resignation had increased the chances of a leadership challenge and a no-deal Brexit. |
| He said the pound "could fall another 3-4% unless the threat of a leadership election is quashed or there are clearer signs that the withdrawal agreement can garner more support in parliament". | He said the pound "could fall another 3-4% unless the threat of a leadership election is quashed or there are clearer signs that the withdrawal agreement can garner more support in parliament". |
| How did the government sell the Brexit agreement to business? | How did the government sell the Brexit agreement to business? |
| Sir Roger Carr is chairman of BAE Systems and also chairs one of the prime minister's five new business councils. | Sir Roger Carr is chairman of BAE Systems and also chairs one of the prime minister's five new business councils. |
| He was on the conference call that Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark held with bosses on Wednesday night following the agreement. | He was on the conference call that Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark held with bosses on Wednesday night following the agreement. |
| He said Mr Hammond and Mr Clark were trying to be clear "that this had been a long and hard process in persistence and resilience, but it had reached a conclusion which would be much much better than the chaos of no decision". | He said Mr Hammond and Mr Clark were trying to be clear "that this had been a long and hard process in persistence and resilience, but it had reached a conclusion which would be much much better than the chaos of no decision". |
| What does business think of the agreement? | What does business think of the agreement? |
| The agreement includes a 21-month transition period, with a unilateral right for the UK to extend it, which was described as "very positive for business" by James Stewart, head of Brexit at KPMG. | The agreement includes a 21-month transition period, with a unilateral right for the UK to extend it, which was described as "very positive for business" by James Stewart, head of Brexit at KPMG. |
| Northern Ireland also has the guarantee of a "friction-free" customs border with the Republic of Ireland. | Northern Ireland also has the guarantee of a "friction-free" customs border with the Republic of Ireland. |
| The CBI described the agreement as a "compromise, including for business" but it unreservedly welcomed the "step back from the cliff-edge". | The CBI described the agreement as a "compromise, including for business" but it unreservedly welcomed the "step back from the cliff-edge". |
| Director-general Carolyn Fairbairn told the BBC: "There is a possible path to frictionless trade now in terms of negotiating the final deal. I don't think anyone thinks the transition or the backstop is the answer, so this has to be used as a route to a final deal with frictionless trade and access for services." | Director-general Carolyn Fairbairn told the BBC: "There is a possible path to frictionless trade now in terms of negotiating the final deal. I don't think anyone thinks the transition or the backstop is the answer, so this has to be used as a route to a final deal with frictionless trade and access for services." |
| So is everyone happy? | So is everyone happy? |
| Gerard Lyons, chief economic strategist at Netwealth Investment and chief economic adviser to Boris Johnson while he was Mayor of London, says the draft Brexit withdrawal deal is not something to cheer about. | Gerard Lyons, chief economic strategist at Netwealth Investment and chief economic adviser to Boris Johnson while he was Mayor of London, says the draft Brexit withdrawal deal is not something to cheer about. |
| "Whilst it has avoided the cliff edge, I think it's important we don't bury our heads in the sands here and view this as a 'good' deal - this is still disappointing," he said. | "Whilst it has avoided the cliff edge, I think it's important we don't bury our heads in the sands here and view this as a 'good' deal - this is still disappointing," he said. |