LONDON: Sterling hovered near a three-month high on Friday, brushing off fresh talk of a Scottish independence referendum that could wrench apart the United Kingdom after Brexit. Weakness in the US dollar amid thin trading due to the Thanksgiving holiday bolstered sterling, which has approached its September high of $1.34 recently on optimism over Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union. The pound looked set to end Friday flat at $1.336, but slipped slightly against the euro to 89.39 pence.

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said the independence vote should take place in the earlier part of the devolved parliament's next term, which begins next year. Scots voted 55-45% against independence in a 2014 referendum but both Brexit and the British government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis have boosted support for independence among Scots.

With five weeks left of a transition period before Britain leaves the EU, markets anticipate a deal can be struck even though stumbling blocks remain. Both sides are calling on the other to compromise over fishing, state aid and how to resolve any future disputes.