Short-selling pressure on the pound has eased back after a surge in bets against the currency in early June, with the UK population poised to vote on the country's membership of the European Union in two days' time.

Both sterling and UK stocks have been subject to extreme volatility in the weeks leading up to the June 23 Brexit vote, with polls putting the 'Leave' campaign out in front earlier in the month only for the 'Remain' camp to mount a comeback in recent days, with the outcome now seen as too close to call.