British pound notes are displayed at a money changer in Kuala Lumpur on January 16, 2017.<br />The pound struggled at 32-year lows against the dollar in Asia on January 16 after reports said British Prime Minister Theresa May was ready to take the country out of the European Union in a so-called “hard Brexit”. / AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN
Sterling edged back towards five-month lows on Wednesday after the top contender to replace Prime Minister Theresa May reaffirmed his desire to take Britain out of the European Union with or without any agreement.
Boris Johnson told the BBC he was “serious” about leading Britain out of the EU on the Oct. 31 deadline without a deal if the bloc refused to negotiate a new exit agreement.
“We are heading for a showdown – a no-deal Brexit; a general election; or a second referendum,” said Derek Halpenny, European head of global markets research at MUFG Bank in London.
“The pound is set to come under renewed downward pressure over the…
