I'd imagine it depends on how much attention the operators in this marketplace have been paying.
If they've believed UK Government rhetoric about how Brexit will be a smooth process that will enhance the UK's trading opportunities, this may come as a surprise.
There are (IMO) a reasonable number of UK citizens and businesses who haven't grasped the likely consequences of what's happening on 1/1/21
Not to add insult to injury, but it's been said that coronavirus actually plays into the hand of current UK gov as they have a scape goat if things go south.
Indeed they are not. What I find a bit puzzling is that the UK Gov. absolutely had an easy escape hatch from the cliff edge of end of 2020, by saying "we've got to delay due to the pandemic" I don't think many people would have complained if they had.
Instead they explicitly rejected that opportunity and carried onwards...
As is often the case with Brexit the real explanation for inexplicable actions of the current government is all about internal Tory party management. I read this article a while back which explains it quite well: https://nicktyrone.com/why-i-believe-the-boris-johnson-gover...
Very interesting article, if a bit worrying for the UK's economy in the short/medium term.
I think it could well be right that they're hoping for the (likely impossible) blink from the EU, but between that, the heavy political toll a US trade deal would require (it would have a big impact on the UK farming community+possibly other areas) and the expanding spat with China, it's really not shaping up to be a good period, economically speaking.
If they've believed UK Government rhetoric about how Brexit will be a smooth process that will enhance the UK's trading opportunities, this may come as a surprise.
There are (IMO) a reasonable number of UK citizens and businesses who haven't grasped the likely consequences of what's happening on 1/1/21