Mobeen Tahir (Wisdom Tree) | The ‘B’ word is back. It was not making headlines for most of this year because both parties involved – the UK and Europe – were embroiled in a more urgent crisis in the shape of a pandemic. The two sides are still making heated exchanges over Brexit negotiations while the 31st December 2020 deadline for agreeing the terms of their future relationship approaches quickly.
Bad for Europe but worse for the UK
UK’s equity market has trailed Europe’s considerably this year. The UK’s FTSE 100 Index is down over 20% while Euro Stoxx 600 Index is down just over 11% year-to-date in sterling and euros respectively. If we compare the two in Euros, the UK fares even worse on account of Sterling’s weakness relative to the Euro – another sign of the UK being hurt more by the risk of Brexit disruption and uncertainty.
Now, while it is possible to make a case about the pandemic causing more economic damage to the UK than Europe, the Brexit factor can certainly not be disregarded. The European Union (EU) accounts for 43% of all UK exports and 51% of all UK imports. The UK’s share in EU’s trade is not insignificant but is certainly smaller with the UK accounting for 14.9% of all EU exports and 10% of all EU imports. UK falling out of the trade union without a conducive trade deal will put UK exports at a competitive disadvantage and sting the UK much more than the EU.
The silver lining may be short-lived
The FTSE 100 Index made gains of nearly 15% between 23 June 2016 – Brexit referendum day – and the end of 2016. This was not because markets perceived Brexit to bring significant economic benefits to the UK economy. Instead, it was triggered by a drastic fall in sterling – a sign that economic prospects had sharply deteriorated. Given FTSE 100 companies generate more than 70% of their revenue from abroad, sterling depreciation boosted the competitiveness of UK exports – in the short term – and hence, lifted UK equities.
A similar effect could provide a silver lining now with sterling likely to get weaker as the Brexit conundrum becomes more vexatious. The Bank of England’s recent indication that it is amenable to considering negative interest rates may also hold the currency from gaining strength. This short-term respite must not, however, mask UK’s Brexit challenge even if equity markets end up taking a myopic view. Investors could therefore consider continue to seek defensive hedges to not only mitigate the risk of a disorderly and disruptive Brexit, but also the uncertainty leading up to it.
