World stocks firm on eve of British referendum

Global stocks are largely rising and the pound clawing higher on the eve of Britain’s closely fought referendum as traders eye the country’s vote on remaining in the European Union.

London’s FTSE 100 index is 0.5 percent up in mid-afternoon deals, as the clock ticked down to the start of balloting to decide Britain’s future in the EU and the future shape of the bloc. The Tel Aviv Stock Market is up 0.33%.

With all eyes trained on the result due early Friday, Frankfurt is just over one percent higher and Paris gained slightly less, buoying US stocks that also opened cautiously higher.

Asian stocks mainly hold in positive territory, despite the head of the US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen warning that a vote to leave, a so-called Brexit, could hammer world markets.

— AFP