Capital markets wake up to Brexit threat as SSAs, FIG brace for impact

Capital markets this week finally faced up to the possibility of the UK voting to leave the European Union in next Thursday’s referendum. There was a distinct whiff of panic in European bond markets, after latest polls showed the Leave campaign was not only gaining momentum but establishing a lead, prompting investors to race into safe haven assets such as Bunds and US Treasuries and selling out of bonds of issuers most likely to be affected by Brexit.