Sterling hits 2-month high vs euro on Le Pen poll gain

The pound rose as high as 84.45 pence per euro, up 0.9 percent on the day, after the Elabe poll showed the lead of centrist Emmanuel Macron and conservative Francois Fillon over Le Pen in head-to-head polls shrinking to 18 and 12 points respectively.

That suggests the anti-EU Le Pen may have more chance of springing a surprise if, as the polls also suggest, she makes it through to the second round of the elections in May.