The British pound was last up 0.4 per cent at US$1.3373, close to US$1.3396, its highest since September 2, reached yesterday. — Reuters file pic
The British pound was last up 0.4 per cent at US$1.3373, close to US$1.3396, its highest since September 2, reached yesterday. — Reuters file pic

LONDON, Nov 24 — Demand for riskier assets today kept sterling close to the two-month high it reached the day before, with investors also hoping that this week’s Brexit negotiations will result in a deal.

News yesterday that AstraZeneca’s vaccine for the coronavirus could be around 90 per cent effective boosted sentiment. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that he hoped almost all Britons at high risk from Covid would be vaccinated against the disease by Easter.

England will introduce a new system on December 15 allowing passengers arriving from high-risk countries to take a Covid-19 test after five days of quarantine and to be released from any further self-isolation if they test negative.

In addition, the one-month full lockdown in England is due to end on December 2, and transport secretary Grant Shapps is set to scrap blanket travel quarantine restrictions by Christmas so people can travel to high-risk countries to visit relatives.

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The November flash purchasing managers index came in better than expected yesterday, adding to the optimism, although the number remained below 50, which represents contraction.

Month-end investment flows have curtailed gains in sterling and the pound should be trading higher on these developments, said Marshall Gittler, head of investment research at BDSwiss Group.

“I think the pound could continue the gains next month, depending of course on how the Brexit talks go,” he said.

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The British pound was last up 0.4 per cent at US$1.3373 (RM5.47), close to US$1.3396, its highest since September 2, reached yesterday. If it were to rise above US$1.3481, the surge would propel it to nearly a one-year high.

Versus the euro, the moves in the pound were more contained, with the British currency trading up 0.1 per cent versus the common currency at 88.78 pence.

London and Brussels this week continue their negotiations to agree a deal on their future trading relationship, though time is now running very short as Britain’s post-Brexit transition period ends in fewer than six weeks.

Without an agreement Britain would revert to trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation rules, an outcome both sides believe would disrupt their economies.

Most investors believe a deal will be clinched, even if it is a bare-bones one that leaves some trade discussions for later. — Reuters