draft

Pound soared Thursday to within a whisker of $1.30, striking five-month peaks after the European Union reached a draft Brexit withdrawal deal with London.

The pound quickly rose more than one percent to $1.2990 before profit-taking set in. The euro slid to 85.76 pence as the news flashed across traders’ screens.

The British capital’s benchmark FTSE 100 shares index meanwhile accelerated gains to stand 0.6 percent higher compared with Wednesday’s closing level.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will still have to take the accord to a sceptical UK parliament for its backing on Saturday.

It is unclear how many of …