Stocks gained ground yesterday and sterling strengthened to its highest level this year, while haven assets weakened with voting under way in the UK’s referendum on its EU membership. Oil also advanced.

August’s first full day of trading showed no let-up in July’s major themes — oil led commodities lower, currencies of resource-rich countries fell, Chinese stocks slid on economic concerns and European equities rose on earnings.

BAD debt provisioning at National Irish Bank of €198 million in the first quart of this year is close to the total amount of €228m set aside last year.