Pound hits record low versus dollar, markets hit by recession fears

The pound hit a record low against the dollar Monday on surging fears about the UK economy after the government unveiled a huge tax-cutting budget.

The selloff came as equity markets across Asia and Europe fell again owing to a growing expectation that central bank interest rate hikes to fight runaway inflation would lead to deep and painful recessions. Oil also suffered more hefty selling.

Officials in several countries including the United States, Britain, Switzerland and Sweden announced more increases in the cost of borrowing.

The moves sent equity markets deep into the red again after officials reiterated their focus on fighting inflation, even if that means causing a recession.

But the biggest casualty of the week was the pound, which fell below $1.10 for the first time since 1985 as new finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced his controversial mini-budget.

It then extended the losses Monday to briefly touch an all-time low of $1.0350 in Asian trade after he said he intended to unveil further reductions, despite his budget causing ructions on London's markets.

It also fell to a two-year low against the euro, though the single currency remains under pressure against the dollar, sitting at 2002 levels.

Now, observers are warning that the pound could fall even further.

The pound's crash is showing markets have a lack of confidence in the UK and that its financial strength is under siege, said Jessica Amir, of Saxo Capital Markets.

The pound is a whisker away from parity and the situation is going to only worsen from here.

Kwarteng, who was appointed by Liz Truss after she became prime minister earlier this month, said he planned to slash taxes to kickstart the British economy and provide cash to cushion families from rocketing energy costs.

But investors were spooked by the huge amount of borrowing likely needed for the multi-billion-pound package, which critics said would benefit the rich far more than the poorest during a cost-of-living crisis.

Sterling's drop has led to speculation the Bank of England will have to step in with an emergency interest rate hike to give the currency a much-needed shot in the arm.

'Macau casinos soar'

Whether or not the UK government announcement of the biggest tax reduction since 1972... will in time yield a significant growth dividend is not something markets are yet willing to contemplate, said National Australia Bank's Ray Attrill.

Instead, they were consumed by worries over the scale of near-term UK government financing needs, at a time when the current account deficit is running at more than eight per cent of GDP.

He added Chatter about a possible UK sovereign rating downgrade has already begun.

And former US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers was scathing of Britain's recent monetary policy decisions.

It makes me very sorry to say, but I think the UK is behaving a bit like an emerging market turning itself into a submerging market, he told Bloomberg Television's Wall Street Week last week.

Between Brexit, how far the Bank of England got behind the curve and now these fiscal policies, I think Britain will be remembered for having (pursued) the worst macroeconomic policies of any major country in a long time.