Bloomberg
“Nothing is priced in,†said David Bloom, global head of foreign-exchange strategy at HSBC Holdings Plc, in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “The political outcome will determine the future of the currency.â€
An election result that paves the way to a UK-European Union deal on Brexit could send the pound up to $1.45 by the end of next year. Or a no-deal Brexit could see it tumble to $1.10, from just below $1.30 now.
Any resolution is good, Bloom said, either it be another referendum or a Brexit deal. Political wrangling will start to ebb away, the economy could get a fiscal boost and the Bank of England could start considering rate increases. The reverse could see recession fears flare.
Among three election scenarios, a hung parliament — where neither prime minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives nor opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party gets a majority — would be the worst for the currency, Bloom said.
In that case, there would be no majority of lawmakers in favour of a fresh referendum on Brexit, nor favouring any specific Brexit deal. “We could be back in the mud†and “lost in the wilderness.â€
While polls suggest a Conservative majority now, the voting scenarios for the December 12 elections are complex, according to Bloom. “It’s still completely open — anything can happen,†he said.