Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Friday, “I had a very good meeting with the UK foreign secretary cleverly on (Northern Ireland) protocol.”

Additional quotes

“A new air of positivity has created a flicker of optimism.”

“We do not think we should get carried away with warm language, but the new UK government up for serious discussion.”

Earlier this week, Coveney said: "It remains to be seen whether this new look British government is willing to make compromises to get a deal done but certainly the mood music has changed quite fundamentally, we welcome that and we will work on not only relationships to rebuild trust but also work on solutions in a practical way."

Market reaction

GBP/USD is catching a fresh bid on the renewed Brexit optimism, with the pair closing in on the 1.1200 barrier. The spot is up 0.24% on the day.