|

Breaking News: GBP/USD leaps on reports UK to plan compromise on Irish border

The United Kingdom is said to plan a compromise on the Irish border issue to get a Brexit deal. Britain will reportedly accept some checks in the Irish sea to achieve an agreement. It could provide the necessary breakthrough, or at least a significant step further towards an accord ahead of the EU Summit later this month.

The new stance, if confirmed, is a departure from the previous position that stressed that Northern Ireland could not have different rules than the rest of the UK.

The GBP/USD jumped from around 1.315 to a high of 1.3115 before calming down. Resistance is seen at 1.3195 followed by 1.3220. 1.3100 remains a battle line. Support is at 1.3055 and the round level of 1.3000.

Here is how the leap looks on the four-hour graph. Click on the image to see a live chart:

GBP USD Ireland issue October 1 2018

The news comes amid the Conservative Party Conference. Prime Minister Theresa May is fighting for her political survival as pro-Brexit members want a tougher stance in the negotiations with the European Union. Her former Foreign minister Boris Johnson sharply criticized her Brexit deal. An offer to have separate rules for NI and the rest of the UK could cause a crisis with the Northern Irish DUP party on which the government depends. 

The issue of Northern Ireland and the Customs Union has long been a sticking point in the negotiations ahead of Brexit date: March 29th, 2019.

Author

Yohay Elam

Yohay Elam

FXStreet

Yohay is in Forex since 2008 when he founded Forex Crunch, a blog crafted in his free time that turned into a fully-fledged currency website later sold to Finixio.

More from Yohay Elam
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD consolidates above 0.7000; remains close to monthly top

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7000 during the Asian session on Friday, trading just below the previous day's monthly low amid diverging forces. A hawkish RBA continues to support the Aussie, while the recent decline in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar depressed near a three-week low. However, oil-driven inflation fears reinforce Fed hike bets, which, along with geopolitical risks, could benefit the safe-haven buck and cap the currency pair.

USD/JPY drops to an over one-month low, around 156.00 after Japan's CPI report

USD/JPY attracts heavy follow-through selling on Friday, dropping to the 156.00 neighborhood, a one-month low, as Japan's National CPI report reaffirms bets for an imminent BoJ rate hike and boosts the Japanese Yen. Moreover, the recent steep fall in US bond yields counters hawkish Fed expectations and geopolitical risks, undermining the US Dollar and exerting additional pressure on the currency pair.

Gold seems vulnerable near August lows; eyes $4,000 break amid Fed hike bets

Gold touches a fresh low since early August during the Asian session on Friday, eyeing the key $4,000 psychological mark. Oil-driven inflation fears reinforce December Fed hike bets and continue to undermine the non-yielding bullion, which fails to benefit from the recent steep fall in US bond yields and the prevailing US Dollar selling bias. Moreover, the overnight breakdown below a trading-range support backs the case for further depreciation.



Bitcoin falls 4% as chip stocks plunge 6.7% and oil surges
Bitcoin (BTC) fell below $82,000 on Thursday as the crypto market joined a broader market sell-off driven by concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) spending, rising oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions involving the US and Iran. The top crypto fell 4% to $81,130 as macro fears weighed on prices across the digital asset market.
The Bank of England just got its clearest reason to hike. Here's what it's really watching

UK inflation as measured by the CPI accelerated to 3.5% YoY in September, up from 3.1% in August, according to the Office for National Statistics. This is the highest level since October 2025, exceeding economists' expectations of 3.4% and pushing inflation further from the BoE's 2% target.

What November 3 means for the Fed's rate path and the US Dollar

The USD faces a decisive period ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While markets anticipate another interest rate increase from the Fed in December, the battle for control of Congress could reshape fiscal policy expectations and, indirectly, the path of US monetary policy in 2027.