Sterling jumps as first result goes against Scottish independence

SYDNEY - Sterling pushed sharply higher in Asian trade on Friday as the first result reported in the Scottish independence vote went to the unionist camp.

The result in the small borough of Clackmannanshire was reported as 46.2 per cent in support of independence, with 53.8 per cent against.

The pound extended early gains to reach $1.6502, up from around $1.6380 late in New York. That was a marked turnaround from a 10-month low of $1.6051 touched just last week.

The euro fell as far as 78.22 pence, from around 78.78, a new two-year low for the single currency.