Markets watch: FTSE and pound hit by political stand-off

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Updated 1.45pm: The FTSE 100 dropped 2% in midday trading as uncertainty over the composition of the British government continues.

London's leading index slumped more than 112 points, or 2.09%, to 5,274.71. Global markets all soared yesterday as news of the EU's 750bn euro rescue package buoyed investors. However, Gordon Brown's resignation late yesterday afternoon and news the Labour party will fight the Tories to form a new Government caused sterling to plummet and the FTSE to fall early today. Sterling had risen against the dollar throughout yesterday and was trading at $1.5020 as Brown spoke, but slid to $1.4892 minutes later. In early afternoon trading today, it was down even further at $1.4773, a drop...

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