The pound has continued its slide against other major currencies as a growing number of polls suggest the UK on course to leave the EU following next week's referendum.
Sterling's performance has been mirrored on stock markets over the previous two sessions, leaving the FTSE 100 perilously close to the 6,000 barrier while stocks in Asia and on mainland Europe have fared worse.
Uncertainty over the referendum has coincided with growing market fears for the health of the global economy - with a widely expected rate hike by the US central bank tomorrow now expected to be put on hold.
Analysts at Barclays said: "The (rate-setting) committee was actively preparing markets for a June-July rate hike until the release of the May employment report ... the abrupt slowing in employment and falling long-run inflation expectations should raise alarm bells, and risk management concerns suggest delaying action until after the outcome of the UK referendum."
The latest polling ahead of the referendum has been cited as rattling investor nerves.
A YouGov poll for The Times puts Leave seven points ahead of Remain while a pair of ICM polls for The Guardian has Leave six points in front.
ORB in the Daily Telegraph has Leave one point ahead.
Some economists fear a UK exit would tip Europe back into recession though others have pointed to benefits for the UK over the longer term.
The pound was 0.6% lower against the dollar at $1.41.8 on Tuesday - extending eight-week lows - while it also shed 1% of its value against the yen.
According to financial spreadbetters, the FTSE 100 was on course for another fall on opening while the losses were tipped to be heavier in Germany and France.
Japan's Nikkei lost a further 1% after a 3% decline on Monday.
Banking stocks have been among those bearing the brunt of the losses in recent days - with shareholders fretting about the possibility of a longer period of low or negative interest rates, given weaknesses in the global economy.
Germany - Europe's biggest economy - said on Tuesday that the Brexit referendum was a factor behind the current uncertainty.
Jens Spahn, a top official in the country's finance ministry, told German broadcaster ARD that finance and equities markets could see even greater volatility if the Leave camp wins.
He said the ministry was bracing for a variety of scenarios, depending on the outcome of the British referendum, and the extent of the market reactions but he declined to give any details.
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