Fears for sterling ease over ‘Long Black Friday’ weekend

The pressure facing retailers over the ‘Long Black Friday’ weekend following the plunge in sterling since the Brexit vote could ease significantly as the euro faces the first of its own looming tests next week, according to analysts.

New political pressures on the euro could also help Irish SMEs exporting across the Irish Sea, as new figures showed the UK was so far weathering the fallout from its Brexit decision.

The upbeat UK figures come at a time when traders are trying to assess the outcome of next weekend’s Italian referendum, which could spark a political crisis in Rome.