British markets rallied today as Scotland's decision to stay in the UK eased investors past the latest in a recent run of global political obstacles.
Sterling jumped to a two-week high against the dollar and a two-year peak against the euro.
Meanwhile, London's FTSE share index hit a two-week high led by UK banks and asset managers, closing 0.3% higher.
Scotland's vote against independence ended a fraught two weeks for markets that had seen the value of sterling fall sharply after some polls suggested the 307-year old union was on the brink of collapse.
The vote not only keeps Britain intact but also reduces the likelihood of its leaving the European Union, potentially a much greater risk for markets and something Scottish independence might well have precipitated, analysts said.
The pound's bounce against the dollar was not a large as some had predicted, hovering at $1.6469 as European trading settled.
But it was stronger against other currencies, rising to a two-year high of 78.10 pence against the euro and a six-year high of 180.70 yen.
Meanwhile, Spain's IBEX also rose, helped by a fall in Spanish 10-year government bond yields as markets viewed Scotland's "No" vote as having reduced prospects of a stronger push for a breakaway in Catalonia.
Meawhile, the Bank of England said it will make no statement after Scottish voters decided to remain part of the UK, according to a spokesman.
BoE Governor Mark Carney said before the vote that the bank had contingency plans in the event of a 'yes' vote.
