Sterling hits 2016 high after poll suggests UK to stay in the EU

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Reuters LONDON
Last Updated : Jun 24 2016 | 3:07 AM IST

LONDON (Reuters) - Sterling surged against major currencies on Thursday after a YouGov poll suggested Britons have voted to keep the country in the European Union, a relief for investors who had feared a Brexit would trigger uncertainty and volatility across world markets.

Sterling rose more than a cent to a fresh 2016 high of $1.4996 from $1.4975, and the euro fell to a one-month low of 76.14 pence .

YouGov's poll was based on responses from a pre-selected group of people seen as representative of the wider electorate on how they actually voted in the referendum.

It is the closest thing in Britain's EU referendum to a publicly available exit poll, and suggested a 52 percent vote to stay in the EU against 48 percent to leave. The final official result is expected around 0600 GMT.

(Reporting by Jamie McGeever; Editing by William Schomberg)

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First Published: Jun 24 2016 | 2:53 AM IST

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