Barclays, RBS, LLoyds and HSBC share prices hit by Brexit divide

While equities have rallied so far this year, with the FTSE 100 up around 8%, the UK banking sector has not done anywhere near as well. Indeed, of the big five, only Standard Chartered and HSBC have managed to outperform the index, posting returns of 20% and 5% respectively.

The other three, the UK-focused trio of RBS, Lloyds and Barclays, have given back all the gains from the first four months of the year, and indeed are now (on a price basis) flat for the year. It is not hard to work out why there is a disparity between the UK-focused institutions and the two banks with significant exposure to Asia; it is, in a word, Brexit.

The UK was granted an extension from the end of March to the end of October to pass the agreed Withdrawal Agreement, but with the planned departure of the UK prime minister by late July, the government has been consumed by the race to succeed Theresa May. Boris Johnson remains firmly in place as the favourite, and as a result markets view the possibility of a ‘no deal’ Brexit as having sharply increased, with potentially dire consequences for the UK economy, consumer spending, housebuilding and other effects that will hit UK-focused banks hard.

So long as this remains a distinct possibility in terms of Brexit outcomes, then those banks with a main focus on the UK will lag behind their internationally-focused peers. A no deal may be avoided, or it may be mitigated, perhaps sparking a recovery, but such uncertainty will not be cleared in the short term.

RBS

The shares surged impressively until the middle of April, when a peak around 265p was followed up by a swift drop. The shares have formed a base above 210p and are now attempting to move above 220p. A move below 210p could see a retracement to 190p, the December lows.

Lloyds

The price is back below the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) at 57.4p, having shed around half the December-April bounce. If the price can hold 56p, then move back above 60p, a more positive view may develop. However, below 56p, 51p and then 48p may be potential downside targets. The price is still comfortably above the December low, which might indicate the creation of a higher low, but for now the outlook remains tilted to the bearish side.

Barclays

Even the bounce from late December failed to really shake off the longer-term decline, with the price rapidly dropping back below the 50-, 100- and 200-day SMAs. However, a possible bullish wedge has formed, with a break above 152p signalling a break to the upside. Further declines could find support at 145p.

HSBC

HSBC is one of the shares that has moved higher since December, and has held most of its gains, but it is so far unable to break above £6.60, a level that was also a peak at the beginning of December. A move above here would ignite further upside towards £6.90. A pullback towards £6.30 could find support at the rising trendline from the October low.

Standard Chartered

Compared to the others, Standard Chartered’s uptrend since its October low is a model of elegance. An upward channel is currently in play, with peak in early May hitting the top end of the channel. As well as the lower bound of the channel, the price has found rising support along the middle of the channel. A drop towards £6.20 could provide a good buying opportunity, while further gains target the top end of the channel at £7.50.