Sterling leaps after MPs vote to rule out No Deal Brexit

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British coins stack on black, pound sterling — ADOBE STOCK British coins stack on black, pound sterling

Parliament voted against the risk of a “no-deal” Brexit, 24 hours after a second defeat for Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce agreement left Britain heading into the unknown.

MPs will vote again today on delaying Britain’s EU departure beyond March 29.

The pound strengthened on hopes of a delayed Brexit, a move which investors said could increase May’s chances of getting her deal with the EU through parliament or lead to Brexit being called off altogether if a second referendum is held.

“No to no-deal (on 29 March)! On reflection... a big win for the pound. A majority in parliament are choosing economic rationale over party politics and that reduces the odds of a disorderly Brexit,” said Viraj Patel, a currency strategist at Arkera, a financial technology firm.

“This is the only majority that we have on Brexit and increases the odds of getting certainty one way or the other, either through a deal or via a push to avoid Brexit altogether,” he added.

Sterling was up more than 1 percent against the euro and the dollar before the result but it surged higher after Mrs May said that MPs would vote on Thursday on delaying Brexit.

It has continued the surge this morning, up against all major currencies.

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to MPs in the House of Commons, London after MPs have supported the amended Government motion which rejects a no-deal Brexit at any time and under any circumstances by 321 votes to 278, majority 43. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday March 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: PA Wire

After the vote, at 7.50, the pound was up 1.5 per cent near the day’s high of $1.3280.

It was up 1 percent versus the euro at 85.48 pence, though remained below a 22-month peak of 84.755 pence touched on Monday before hopes for May’s Brexit deal to pass the second time round were crushed.

Sterling has swung wildly in the last 48 hours between $1.30 and $1.33 and at junctures it has been at its most volatile since the June 2016 Brexit referendum.

Most economists anticipate that Brexit will be delayed by a few months with the two sides eventually agreeing a free-trade deal, according to a Reuters poll.

The barrage of news this week over the progress of Brexit negotiations has sent derivative markets into a tailspin.

Overnight gauges of expected moves in the pound spiked on Tuesday to its highest levels last seen immediately after the Brexit referendum vote in June 2016.

However, gauges of expected volatility in the British currency showed tentative signs of settling on Wednesday.