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Pound falls heavily as EU vote results come in Pound tumbles to lows not seen since 1985
(35 minutes later)
There has been a dramatic fall in the value of the pound as traders react to the latest results from the UK's referendum on EU membership. There has been a dramatic fall in the value of the pound as traders bet on a Leave victory in the UK's referendum on European Union membership.
At one stage it hit $1.3477 - a low not seen since 1985. At one stage it hit $1.3459, a 9% plunge, and a low not seen since 1985.
Before the results started to come in the pound rose as high as $1.50, as traders bet on a Remain victory.Before the results started to come in the pound rose as high as $1.50, as traders bet on a Remain victory.
But following early strong Leave votes in north-east England it tumbled to $1.43 and then took another dive after 03:00 BST as Leave maintained its lead.But following early strong Leave votes in north-east England it tumbled to $1.43 and then took another dive after 03:00 BST as Leave maintained its lead.
Currency traders say these moves are more extreme than those seen during the financial crisis of 2008.Currency traders say these moves are more extreme than those seen during the financial crisis of 2008.
"Never seen anything like it. These are once-in-a-lifetime moves, bigger than Lehmans and Black Wednesday, and we haven't even had the result yet," said Joe Rundle, head of trading at ETX Capital."Never seen anything like it. These are once-in-a-lifetime moves, bigger than Lehmans and Black Wednesday, and we haven't even had the result yet," said Joe Rundle, head of trading at ETX Capital.
"It's looking more and more like a Leave win and these massive moves in sterling and stocks will only get bigger if that is the case," he added."It's looking more and more like a Leave win and these massive moves in sterling and stocks will only get bigger if that is the case," he added.
Around midnight sterling had risen to $1.50 after leading Leave campaigner Nigel Farage said it looked as though Remain had "edged" the vote.
EU Referendum ResultsEU Referendum Results
EU Referendum live pageEU Referendum live page
"'Volumes are very low and markets are relatively illiquid. Traders are very jittery, it's not just in sterling," said Jeremy Stretch from CIBC. Around midnight sterling had risen to $1.50 after leading Leave campaigner Nigel Farage said it looked as though Remain had "edged" the vote.
Last week the pound fell as low as $1.40 as traders tracked polls suggesting a flagging Remain campaign. But those gains were short lived as the first results showed surprisingly strong votes to leave the EU.
As for shares, the markets are pointing to a 8% slump when the FTSE 100 opens on Friday.As for shares, the markets are pointing to a 8% slump when the FTSE 100 opens on Friday.
In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 has fallen by more than 6%. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 has fallen by more than 6% with the yen up 5% as investors piled into the Japanese currency which is seen as a safe-haven.
Farage: We'll win whatever happens In commodities, the price of gold jumped nearly 7% to $1,348.27 an ounce.
In pictures: UK votes in referendumIn pictures: UK votes in referendum
Key moments in the referendum campaignKey moments in the referendum campaign
EU Referendum: Decision timeEU Referendum: Decision time
Top four pound moves post World War IITop four pound moves post World War II
Source Bank of New York MellonSource Bank of New York Mellon
Shares higherShares higher
Earlier the FTSE 100 closed 1.2% higher to a two-month high of 6,338.1 points, with miners, banks and travel firms rising. Earlier the FTSE 100 closed 1.2% higher to a two-month high of 6,338.1 points, with miners, banks and travel firms rising, as traders had expected a remain vote.
Wall Street also jumped in late trading, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 both closing 1.3% higher.Wall Street also jumped in late trading, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 both closing 1.3% higher.
European markets earlier added to the optimism, with the Dax in Frankfurt and the Cac 40 in Paris rising 1.8% and 2% respectively. European markets were also optimistic, with the Dax in Frankfurt and the Cac 40 in Paris rising 1.8% and 2% respectively.
Brent crude rose sharply in late trading to end the day 2.1%, or $1.03 higher at $50.91 a barrel, while US crude added 98 cents to $50.11.Brent crude rose sharply in late trading to end the day 2.1%, or $1.03 higher at $50.91 a barrel, while US crude added 98 cents to $50.11.
Higher oil prices bolstered shares in Shell, which closed up 3.1% in London, while BP was almost 1% higher.Higher oil prices bolstered shares in Shell, which closed up 3.1% in London, while BP was almost 1% higher.
Thursday winners
The biggest riser on the London market was British Airways owner IAG, whose shares rose 3.6% to 528p as traders expected aviation to be helped by a remain vote.
London Stock Exchange Group ended 3% higher as its £21bn merger with Deutsche Borse looked more certain of going ahead.
Saxo Bank's head of FX strategy, John Hardy, said: "Everybody is a bit shell-shocked at the way the market has moved so aggressively (toward the UK remaining in the EU).
"If you are stuck with a short position, you are being forced out without even knowing the result, but what this also means is that a Brexit result is now a catastrophic risk."