Global stock markets retreated on Friday, December 18, along with the pound, as investors focused on long-running United States stimulus talks on Capitol Hill and whether Britain and the European Union can finally agree to a post-Brexit trade deal., as markets awaited resolution of congressional talks on another relief package for the coronavirus-ravaged US economy.
"While there's a lot of optimism about stimulus, it's important not to count on it," said TD Ameritrade's JJ Kinahan in a note on Friday morning. Republicans and Democrats braced for possibly working through the weekend to conclude a $900-billion deal aimed at providing emergency relief for millions of struggling families and businesses amidStill, many analysts remain hopeful.
Meanwhile, British and EU negotiators took their grueling quest for a post-Brexit trade deal into the weekend after failing again on Friday to resolve the highly charged issue of fishing rights."This week ends just like last week with the market focused on an apparent Sunday deadline to approve a Brexit deal," remarked AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.