British pound plummets to 31-year low amid 'Brexit' vote

LONDON — The British pound plummeted to a 31-year low and Dow futures shed more than 600 points as the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union early Friday. 

Stock markets from London to Tokyo tumbled. 

The British currency initially soared to a 2016 peak of $1.50 amid signs that "remain" was winning the day, but then moved lower as that proved inaccurate. The pound fell from $1.50 to below $1.35 as results showed the U.K. would vote to quit the bloc.

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Great Britain voted to leave the European Union. Markets yesterday bet they would stay, and now the fallout is great. David Craig for Paste BN.

The “leave” side was ahead by 51.7% to 48.3% with more than three-quarters of votes tallied.

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