NEW YORK, Dec 14 — London stocks and the British pound jumped yesterday after an election triumph for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson that analysts said will bring clarity to Brexit proceedings and unlock stronger economic growth.
Other European stock markets — although lagging buoyant London, which rose over 2 per cent at one point — also powered ahead, supported by confirmation of a partial trade deal between the United States and China.
However, Wall Street’s rally petered out, with American equities finishing little changed on the day both Beijing and Washington finally said they were on the same page.
Stocks had rallied Thursday in anticipation of the trade deal with China, but then declined when the pact was announced.
“You got a pretty good example of ‘buy the rumours and sell the news,’” Art Hogan of National Holdings told AFP, referencing the saying indicating equities rise more in anticipation of an event than after the event itself.
“But it’s certainly great news on Brexit and US-China trade war.”
Trade economists cheered the fact the deal pulled back from the brink but did not see much progress after many months of pain for American businesses and farmers.
President Donald Trump has canceled tariffs that had been due to hit US$160 billion in Chinese goods as of tomorrow and agreed to reduce some tariffs already in place.
China also committed to purchases of US manufactured merchandise, energy goods and farm exports, US officials said, adding that the text of the agreement should be signed in early January.
Relief at Corbyn’s defeat
In Britain, Prime Minister Johnson will now push ahead with Britain’s scheduled exit from the European Union on January 31 as he seeks to dispel three years of uncertainty and political deadlock, with a post-Brexit, probably expansionary, budget planned in March.
“The UK general election has provided a clearer path towards a resolution to Brexit and looser fiscal policy, which should boost economic activity and push up sterling, UK equities, and Gilt yields,” said Hubert de Barochez, an economist with Capital Economics.
But he warned that “as long as there remains the possibility of something like a ‘no deal,’ those gains ought to be limited.”
European leaders also welcomed what appeared to be an end to Brexit paralysis, but warned Britain against becoming “unfair competitor.”
The sheer scale of Thursday’s victory — the biggest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher’s heyday in the 1980s — sent the pound soaring to an 18-month dollar peak and to highs against the euro not seen since the June 2016 Brexit referendum.
The pound held at elevated levels yesterday but pulled back somewhat from the multi-month peaks forged overnight.
The broader FTSE 250 index, which is more weighted with domestic companies than the FTSE 100 which is dominated by multinationals, surged to a record high.
Investors expressed relief that Johnson roundly defeated main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party — which had vowed to re-nationalise formerly state-owned companies.
Key figures around 2130 GMT
New York - Dow: FLAT at 28,135.38 (close)
New York - S&P 500: FLAT at 3,168.80 (close)
New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.2 per cent at 8,734.88 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 1.1 per cent at 7,353.44 points (close)
Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.5 per cent at 13,282.72 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 per cent at 5,919.02 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.1 per cent at 3,731.07 (close)
Pound/dollar: UP at US$1.3336 from US$1.3161 at 2200 GMT
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.37 pence from 84.57 pence
Euro/dollar: UP at US$1.1117 from US$1.1130
Dollar/yen: UP at ¥109.35 from ¥109.31
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.6 per cent at 24,023.10 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng: 2.6 per cent at 27,687.76 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.8 per cent at 2,967.68 (close)
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.6 per cent at $65.22 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.5 per cent at $60.07 — AFP
