By Yasin Ebrahim
Investing.com – The pound held steady against the dollar on Monday, shrugging off renewed demand for the safe-haven greenback on expectations the U.K. and EU will eventually reach a Brexit deal after both sides agreed to push out the deadline to reach a consensus.
GBP/USD fell 0.13% to $1.3024.
Brexit talks, which resumed last Thursday, were extended to Wednesday, when EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to attempt to bridge some of the divide between the U.K. and EU.
Ahead of the talks, Barnier’s effort to clinch a deal could receive a boost on hopes German Chancellor Angela Merkel may be able persuade French President Emmanuel Macron to ease his stance on the key sticking point of fishing rights.
Britain has stressed that it prefers to take control over access to its waters, when the Brexit transition period ends. Macron, however, fears that a softer stance on fisheries could see French fishermen sacrificed.
The optimism on progress this week had been tempered somewhat following reports the U.K. is waiting until after the U.S. election to reveal its negotiation strategy as a Joe Biden victory could weaken Britain’s negotiation stance. Biden had previously stressed that a U.K.-U.S. deal would depend on Britain securing a deal with the EU.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however, said Brexit and the U.S. election result were “entirely separate,” according to U.K. media reports.