The pound lost steam but continued to hover near six-month highs as investors took an optimistic view of Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for a general election in June.

Shanghai’s stock index plunged nearly 7% today, sparking a halt in trading of Chinese shares, after weak manufacturing data and Middle East tensions weighed on Asian markets.

World stock markets rose today after President Barack Obama won a fiercely-contested race for re-election, allowing him to refocus his attention on issues other than the campaign.