THE pound has surged by almost 2 per cent after exit polls predicted a storming victory for Boris Johnson.
Sterling rose from $1.3162 to just under $1.34 this evening, minutes after the astonishing Opsos Mori survey was published.
It marks the biggest one-day rise for the pound since January 2017, and the highest level it has been at this year.
The huge surge this evening is also the highest the pound has been against the dollar since May 2018.
Chief market analyst Neil Wilson told Sky News earlier: “UK equities are already on the naughty step and would be cast out completely if Jeremy Corbyn formed the next government.
“If Boris Johnson marches in with a healthy majority then a lot is probably priced as far as equity markets go.
“A stronger pound can be expected as it delivers greater certainty over Brexit.”
Today, Brits headed to the polls to vote in one of the biggest and most decisive elections ever.
Exit polls put Mr Johnson on course for a majority win with 368 while Labour trailed at just 191.
The PM tweeted: “Thank you to everyone across our great country who voted, who volunteered, who stood as candidates. We live in the greatest democracy in the world.”
Prime Minister Mr Johnson, who gambled his premiership by triggering the vote, has sought to focus on his pledge to “get Brexit done” throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign has been overshadowed by anti-Semitism allegations and his refusal to take a stand on Brexit.
Voters had braved freezing temperatures throughout the day to line up outside community halls, churches and schools to have their say – and risked being a touch late for work.
Astonishing pictures of snaking queues came despite initial fears of a low turnout in the first December election in nearly 100 years.
The third General Election in less than five years has been largely dominated by the 2016 vote to leave the European Union – with Labour pledging to give voters another say in a second referendum, while the Tories have vowed to take the UK out of the EU next month.
The last election in the UK in 2017 saw a 68.8 per cent turnout, higher than at the 2015 and 2010 elections – with bookies offering 6-4 odds on a 65-70 per cent turnout this year.
The huge spike in the pound’s value shown here, minutes after the exit poll results were announced
Boris has pledged to ‘get Brexit done’ throughout the election campaign
Corbyn promised to protect the NHS and bring in more police officers
