Banks amongst winners on FTSE as City waits for trade deal confirmation December 24, 2020 Lloyds Bank and Natwest are amongst those enjoying a Brexit deal boost on the FTSE 100 today. Lloyds is up more than 4 per cent on the last day of trading before Christmas. Natwest is also up. The deal is expected to be announced by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen within the next [...]
Brexit deal close as negotiators reach outline December 23, 2020 The outline to a UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal has been agreed, according to multiple reports. A statement is expected either late this evening or tomorrow morning. The framework of the deal is believed to have settled outstanding issues including fishing. The deal is expected to predominantly cover goods trade, with financial services regulators having already [...]
Go Betty Go: Pound soars as speculation mounts EU deal is imminent December 23, 2020 Reports that a post-Brexit trade deal could emerge sooner rather than later has seen Sterling soar against the dollar. The pound has hit $1.35 after an EU diplomat told Reuters that a deal would be coming “today or tomorrow.” Other sources have suggested a deal is imminent. The Sun is reporting that the last compromise [...]
Reports: EU putting in place ‘procedures’ for post-Brexit trade deal December 23, 2020 EU member states are beginning to put in place procedures for post-Brexit trade deal, reports have emerged in the last few minutes. Three diplomatic sources told Reuters that preparations have been stepped up. Reuters reports that national diplomats have been told to prepare for a meeting as early as Thursday should a deal be struck [...]
The Frankfurt Airlift: Lufthansa exploring additional fresh food flights to UK December 23, 2020 Lufthansa have offered special cargo flights for fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK as firms try to beat the chaos at Dover. Up to 3,000 lorries remain stuck at the Kent port despite an agreement being struck to allow hauliers with negative Covid-19 tests to cross the channel. Supply chains across the continent have [...]
Brexit, people and the pandemic: Critical actions for business December 23, 2020 | City Talk The latest travel bans from the UK into Europe, induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, present real challenges for businesses in the final days leading up to the end of the Brexit transition period. How do these travel restrictions relate to Brexit? In two ways: Firstly, these restrictions particularly impact those in financial services who have [...]
Up the chain: Boris and Ursula try to seal a deal before Christmas December 23, 2020 PM Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are said to be in “close contact” in a last-ditch bid to secure a post-Brexit trade deal. Talks on the future relationship between the UK and the EU have now dragged on for four and a half years. Read more: One final push but [...]
Brexit: Barnier says progress made but fisheries still holding up deal December 22, 2020 Michel Barnier has told EU Ambassadors that progress has been made towards a Brexit deal, according to multiple reports. However, fisheries remains the key stumbling block and as a result there is now doubt that a deal will be ready in time for the December 31 deadline. Barnier is reported to have said that his [...]
New: Barnier: “Final push” in negotiations but no plan for extension December 22, 2020 EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said that negotiations are at a “crucial moment” as he effectively ruled out any extension to the transition period. He told media that “we are giving it a final push” but warned that the UK “will leave the single market” in 10 days’ time. Some, including Mayor of London Sadiq [...]
City analysts wait for a Brexit deal too important not to be done December 22, 2020 City analysts continue to believe that a Brexit trade deal will be done, even as talks remain unfinished just 8 days before the UK’s departure from the EU. Fears of a so-called ‘no deal’ Brexit have hung over markets for more than four years, but many respected watchers simply believe a deal is too important [...]