Sterling falls to seven-year low over Brexit risks

The sterling pound has taken a battering following an opinion poll published on Nov 7 showing supporters of Scottish independence are ahead for the first time, 11 days before a referendum on whether to split from Britain is due to be held - EPA Photo.

LONDON: Sterling sank to a seven-year low on Wednesday as companies and investors rushed to insure themselves against the chances of a British exit from the European Union that HSBC said could knock a fifth off the value of pound.

The aftermath of Prime Minister David Cameron's announcement of a June 23 referendum on "Brexit" has driven the worst three days for the world's fourth most traded currency since the depths of the financial crisis in 2009.

Another wave of selling in London on Wednesday morning drove it to less than $1.39, within 4 cents of levels last seen when it sank to parity to the dollar in the mid-1980s. It had steadied to $1.3948, down half a percent on the day by 1650 GMT.

"There are very few people willing to take the other side of the move lower," said Josh O'Byrne, a strategist at Citi. "Knowing now that the vote will be in June, there is a greater incentive for those that haven't hedged GBP exposure to do so."

The cost of currency derivatives, which allow companies, big institutional investors and hedge funds to protect future revenues or asset values held in sterling against sharp swings in the currency, jumped to their highest in more than four years.

HSBC, Britain's biggest bank, said the currency could lose up to 20 percent of its value and UK economic growth could be up to 1.5 percentage points lower next year if Britain votes to leave.

The latest poll showed the "In" camp ahead at 51 percent, versus 39 percent for "Out", with 10 percent undecided. Other polls have been closer.

Analysts said the 2009 low of $1.35 was now a real prospect. The pound also fell 0.6 percent to its weakest in 16 months against the euro . The Bank of England's broader trade-weighted measure closed in London roughly 1 percent weaker at its lowest in two years. =GBP

"A vote for Brexit would have potentially huge consequences for all asset classes," HSBC said.

"Following a vote to leave we think uncertainty could grip the UK economy, triggering a potential slowdown in growth and a collapse in sterling."

So far, however, the reaction on other UK markets has been far more muted.

Government bond prices are steady on the week, any nervousness among investors holding UK assets offset by the prospect that the vote will further push back any rises in interest rates by the Bank of England.

Governor Mark Carney said on Tuesday that the bank could still use rate cuts and a broadening of a bond-buying programme to boost Britain's economy if needed after the Brexit vote.

Gilt yields have edged lower for four out of the last five trading sessions and have moved mostly in tandem with German Bund yields. The 10-year gilt yield is so far down around 5 basis points this week, at 1.364 percent. London's stock exchange has also seen a far more mixed response. Some property companies have been targeted as potential losers from the vote, while others have benefited from the assumption that a weaker pound would help exports.

"This is not the time to just exit into cash. We think there is a lot of potential upside to the UK equities market," said Mouhammed Choukeir, chief investment officer at Kleinwort Benson in London.

"A lot of the impact on the pound has already played out. Political events will tend to provide short-term volatility but longer term they are less important."- Reuters