The British pound was nearly steady Friday ahead of Parliament’s knife-edge’s vote on the Brexit deal agreed by U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union.
The pound GBPUSD, +0.4422% traded hands at $1.2880, versus $1.2890 late Thursday.
Analysts at Citi said the vote, scheduled for Saturday, was too close to call. “Compared to the 286 MPs who voted for a deal in March, we think around 313 are lining up to vote for it this time around, 5 short of what we think would be a majority but well within the range of further plausible changes in support,” the analysts said in a note to clients.
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The FTSE 100 UKX, -0.44% closed 0.44% lower to 7150.67, with dollar earners such as HSBC HSBA, -0.79% , Royal Dutch Shell RDSA, -0.82% and Diageo DGE, -0.94% losing ground. The Royal Bank of Scotland RBS, +2.63% was the top riser, gaining 2.6%.
Besides Brexit news, InterContinental Hotels IHG, -4.58% fell 4.6% as the hotel chain said comparable revenue per available room fell 0.8% in the third quarter. Tougher trading conditions in the U.S. and China, and ongoing unrest in the Hong Kong, weighed on the company.