The Conservatives swept back to power in the UK general election with the biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher’s landslide in 1987.
Why has the pound surged?
Sterling’s sharp rise is a direct response to greater clarity about Brexit, as Boris Johnson’s deal is now expected to be passed in Parliament thanks to his Commons majority.
Prior to the exit polls, the pound was at €1.1819, US$1.3153 and AU$1.9045 at 21:40 on December 12. But by 22:10, when it was clear a Tory majority was expected, the pound surged by more than two cents against the euro, by more than three cents against the US dollar, and almost four cents against the Aussie dollar.
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Jake Trask, FX Research Director at OFX, said:
“As it turned out, the pollsters and the bookmakers were correct with a Tory majority realised, and the margin of victory was always going to determine sterling’s rise.
“A narrow victory by 10-20 seats would have seen a small rally for GBP/USD through US$1.33 and beyond which had been priced in, to a certain extent, by markets already. But as the majority was much higher than that, it jumped towards the US$1.35 handle, as it means PM Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill should be signed off ASAP.”
Unless there is ongoing in-fighting within the Conservative ranks, the country should now see a straightforward move onto Brexit’s next stage of negotiating the trade deal with the EU. But, to complete this within a matter of months to meet the transition period deadline – currently the end of December 2020 – is a tall order, and any delay could cause further uncertainty, potentially weighing on the pound again.
What does this mean for your global money transfers?
As it stands, sterling’s rally is good news for Brits sending currency abroad. Anyone moving £100,000 to Australian dollars could have gained AU$5,500 in the space of just 10 minutes, from before to after the exit polls were announced. The equivalent transaction to US dollars could have yielded an additional US$3,400. To capitalise on GBP gains, an OFX Forward Contract allows businesses and individuals to fix future payments at today’s rate.
Get in touch: Reach out today to learn more about OFX can help you understand the latest currency market movements
The pound is likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks as Brexit plans take shape, but fast-moving rates can be advantageous for anyone moving money overseas if you know how to make them work for you. Working with a currency specialist to help navigate the complexity of an uncertain market can help to control your exposure and maximise potential upsides with a variety of products that are available to both individuals and businesses.
To find out how to make the best decisions no matter what happens to the pound in the coming weeks, get in touch with OFX experts 24/7 worldwide on one of our regional contact numbers below, or by email at customer.service@ofx.com.
United Kingdom: Personal +44 207 614 4194; Business +44 207 614 4195
Australia: Personal 1300-300-424; Business 1300-300-524
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IMPORTANT: The contents of this post do not constitute financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. UKForex Limited (trading as “OFX”) and its affiliates make no recommendation as to the merits of any financial strategy or product referred to in the blog. OFX makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the suitability, completeness, quality or exactness of the information and models provided in this post.
