High-Level Takeaways
- On June 23, British citizens voted roughly 52 percent to 48 percent in favor to leave the European Union.
- Short term, we expect market volatility to pick up - Asian markets’ response and the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures swinging wildly overnight as the results came in may be a bellwether of what’s to come.
- In the meantime, the U.K. has a lot to work out - All political accords, treaties, trade agreements, and many regulations will have to be reworked, renegotiated, and some started from scratch.
- Long term, the Brexit could have significant geopolitical and economic ramifications for the Eurozone - All eyes will be on the U.K. to see how they handle the separation both politically and economically.
What Does the BREXIT Mean to You?
Voters in the United Kingdom chose to Brexit from the European Union (EU) late Thursday, June 23. The “Brexiters” (those who voted in favor of leaving the EU) were victorious, snatching 52 percent of the vote and setting Britain on a historic path to be the first country ever to do so.
Stock markets reacted swiftly to the news. Asian exchanges, which were open as the results came in, fell sharply with Japan’s Nikkei 225 Average down as much as 8 percent and China’s Shanghai Composite lower by 1.3 percent. European markets opened the morning off as well. German and French stocks are down 6.8 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively. Financial companies and banks, especially those in Europe, have been the hardest hit with some down as much as 25 percent. Furthermore, our domestic stock markets pointed to a Friday morning open down more than 2.5 percent as indicated by the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures.
Britain’s central bank, the Bank of England, has promised 250 billion pound sterling to ease the markets and create liquidity for the embattled currency. This had a somewhat calming effect and helped bring many off their intraday lows. However, as mentioned above, global equities are still trading sharply lower than their previous close as is the British pound. The pound sterling was off as much as 11 percent yesterday before rebounding to close down 6 percent.
In the short-term, we expect volatility to spike as investors reassess the global markets and react to increased uncertainty. The U.K. is already experiencing political fallout with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, announcing his resignation. However, he will stay in office for a few more months to ensure a smooth transition. While the vote is historic and U.K. politicians have every intention of honoring the vote and going through with the “Brexit,” the U.K. is still technically part of the EU and must abide by its rules and regulations until the separation is finalized.
In the intermediate-term, much work is ahead for the British. Trade agreements, treaties, and many regulations must be renegotiated and reworked. The U.K. economy and markets should experience significant volatility as the government seeks to reestablish its global relationships and put the country on the best possible path going forward.
Long-term, the future of the EU is much more in doubt than it was two days ago. Whether the British know it or not, they are being watched very closely by other members of the EU to see how they weather the coming months and years. If they are successful in their separation, they could be paving the way for other countries to leave as well.
We are watching the markets closely and will continue to do so, providing updates as it relates to U.K.’s economic future and what this means for investors in general. Although events such as these are impossible to time, we continue to stand by the benefits of a comprehensive wealth plan as well as the process we follow in volatile situations such as these.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. The economic forecasts set forth in the presentation may not develop as predicted. International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors. The fast price swings in currencies will result in significant volatility in an investor’s holdings. This material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.