FX.co ★ Difficult times await the pound/franc – UBS

According to the estimates of the largest bank UBS Global Wealth Management, the previous 12-month forecasts for the pound/franc (GBP/CHF) were revised down significantly. Experts believe that the reason for this is the growing tensions in trade between the US and China. They believe that the current situation will support the demand for the Swiss currency.

According to preliminary forecasts of UBS Wealth analysts, the decline in the GBP/CHF pair will be within the 1.27 indicator. The previous indicator of the bank was 1.29. At the end of last week, the GBP/CHF rate fell to the level of 1.1728, which is the weakest indicator since October 2016. According to UBS Wealth experts, in the future, we should expect the recovery of the pound. Experts attribute this to the high probability of extending the Brexit period. They recall that the UK's exit from the EU, which expires on October 31, 2019, may be extended after the general election in the country.

Concerning the Swiss franc, UBS Wealth analysts are confident that it will be supported by global uncertainties, such as the trade conflict between Washington and Beijing. The fall of the GBP/CHF pair will be limited to levels up to 1.15, if there is no "hard" Brexit without a deal, experts emphasize.

In the case of the worst-case scenario, namely the UK's exit from the EU without a deal, the collapse of the GBP/CHF pair will reach 1.05–1.10, according to UBS Wealth. Another reason for the sharp depreciation of the pound/franc pair may be the monetary policy of the Swiss National Bank. Negative developments are possible if the regulator refuses to follow the global trend aimed at weakening monetary policy by central banks around the world.

In the case of the gradual recovery of the European economy and positive results of Brexit, the situation for the GBP/CHF pair will be the best. In this situation, the pair can reach the record of 2019 at the level of 1.34, summarize in UBS Wealth.