[Tosh Crabtree]

Thanks Peter.

[PeterNI]

The latest news as reported by Bloomberg this morning is that "officials are planning for the possibility of a breakthrough as soon as Monday".

There has been a lot of work completed (the drafts have many sections surrounded with block brackets defining the notion that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed) including technical areas such as VAT.

They are currently in Brussels still talking.

Let's see Barnier meets with EU ambassadors this coming Friday.

The problem with time is that any proposed agreement has to be 'legally scrubbed' by lawyers from UK and EU, then translated accurately into 23 official languages, then debated on and passed by both Parliaments.

[PeterNI]

Latest position is that it's now down to fisheries.

Fish represents 0.1% of UK GDP, UK sells 70% of catch to EU but it is huge in politics - thus why it's now been left to last.

Barnier still in London - they kept talking even today - general consensus is that this coming week is make or break.

There were a few rumours this past week that caused some pound buying only for Barnier to tweet the remaining difficulties and the selling returned.

There is a feeling that a deal is imminent - might be 'staged' as in a transition setup although that word will not be used.

Anyways, big week ahead.

[PeterNI]

Money markets figure possibility of white smoke soon so are buying GBP vs the US dollar.

Internal market bill to be presented again Monday coming and also new Finance Bill which also has provision for breaking last year's withdrawal agreement - they are the only 2 things that could scupper the talks now.

Still waiting

[PeterNI]

Seems that time has at last ran out - the negotiators have done their best and have both issued a joint statement - over to our respective political bosses they have decided.

Mostly economics will now no longer play a role - so the likely outcome is difficult to gauge.

For ex-pats Eur/Gbp movement will probably be more muted - a deal is good for both currencies and the reverse the opposite - probably some knee jerk but only in the short term.

Regarding the technical - well that may be a little more problematic - things like visas etc have been agreed but squared in brackets (i.e nothing agreed until all agreed) - no-one really knows yet.

[Tosh Crabtree]

Correct me if I'm wrong Peter. But , isn't today ( Sunday ) the final day of negotiations ?
If so , looks like no deal/w.t.o. is going to happen.

[freddo]

Talks have been extended to next week

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/b ... li=BBoPWjQ

[Tosh Crabtree]

Why Freddo ?
The EU have shown their true colours.
They want to punish Britain for having the audacity to leave the club.
Its long overdue time to walk away.

[freddo]

Will cost too much money to walk away and the UK will still have to pay for its commitments it signed up to
In my opinion, the big hold up of an agreement is Barnier he is being a first-class twot because he wants to get it all his way
Talks should go on until an agreement is reached that is satisfactory to both sides give and take is called for

[Tosh Crabtree]

There lies the problem, Freddo.
The EU want to take , but aren't very forthcoming about giving .
They're quite intransigent.
I believe a deal must be reached by this Sunday ?