World Stocks Higher Monday

HONG KONG (AP) -- World stock markets jumped and the pound rallied Monday as polls suggested British voters will choose to remain in the European Union in a referendum this week, easing investor worries about a possible "Brexit."

KEEPING SCORE: European stocks posted big gains in early trading. France's CAC 40 surged 2.7 percent to 4,306.48 while Germany's DAX rocketed 2.9 percent to 9,905.22. Britain's FTSE 100 leaped 2.2 percent to 6,151.24. U.S. stocks were poised to open sharply higher, with Dow futures adding 1.1 percent to 17,751.00 and the broader S&P 500 futures climbing 1.2 percent to 2,082.90.

BREXIT: Global investors are focusing this week on Britain's referendum on Thursday on EU membership, with results expected a day later. Market anxiety over the uncertain consequences of a British exit, including the impact on global financial markets, had been rising as support for the "Leave" side strengthened. However, three polls over the weekend showed that the "Remain" side had recovered some lost ground, giving investors more confidence to move into riskier assets.

CURRENCIES: The pound jumped on the poll results, rising 0.4 percent to $1.47 from $1.44 in last week's trading. The dollar rose to 104.53 yen from 104.13 yen and the euro strengthened to $1.1343 from $1.1276.

ANALYST INSIGHT: "The entire market is now focused on the U.K.'s EU referendum result," said Margaret Yang, an analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore. "Judging by the market reaction over the last two days, more volatility is likely this week. It is expected that a vote to remain would lead to a quick unwinding of risk premium and a substantial risk-on rally, whereas a Brexit vote would have the opposite effect."

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged 2.3 percent to close at 15,965.30 and South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.4 percent to 1,981.12. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.7 percent to 20,510.20 while the Shanghai Composite Index crept up 0.1 percent to 2,888.81. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1 .8 percent to 5,256.90. Benchmarks in Taiwan, New Zealand and Southeast Asia also gained.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude oil futures rose 83 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $48.81 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract had climbed $1.77 to close at $47.98 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 89 cents to $50.06 barrel in London.

(KA)