Robust demand for a multibillion-pound sale of UK government debt and a rally in sterling appeared to show that investors are more upbeat about Britain’s June vote on whether to remain in the European Union.

The £4.75 billion ($6.9 billion) debt sale on April 26 attracted £21 billion of orders, according to a notice by banks underwriting the deal. The pound rose to $1.4582 in late New York trading, its highest level against the dollar since early February.