Brexit: Dow closes more than 600 points following EU referendum result

The reaction came after British voters decided to leave the EU

The markets are likely to experience a rocky few days (YouTube)

The American markets - and those around the word - reacted sharply to Britain’s decision to leave the EU with the Dow plunging more than 530 points in the first few minutes of trading. It closed, at 4pm, 611 points down.

“This is going to go on for several weeks,” Mohamed E-Erian, a senior adviser to Allianaz told CNN. “You are going to have major economic uncertainty.”

Reports said that investors were flocking to gold and Government Bonds, in a a sign of concern about the likely impact of the decision, both for the UK and the global economy.

US stocks took far smaller losses than markets in Europe and Asia, but were still sharply lower, the Associated Press said.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 503 points, or 2.8 percent, to 17,508 at midday on Friday. The S&P 500 was on pace for its biggest loss since last August, down 62 points, or 2.9 percent, to 2,051. The Nasdaq composite dropped 172 points, or 3.5 per cent, to 4,737.

The vote brought a massive dose of uncertainty to financial markets, something investors loathe. Traders responded by dumping riskier assets that appeared to have the most to lose from disruptions in financial flows and trade: banks, technology companies and makers of basic materials.

Leave supporters congregate outside the Houses of Parliament

“This vote is a step away from free trade,” said Bob Doll, chief equity strategist Nuveen Asset Management. “When you add to it the specter of the last couple of years of terrorism it causes the average individual ... to be more nationalistic, more populist, more protectionist.”

Bond prices surged and yields fell, the AP said. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note dropped to 1.56 per cent from 1.75 per cent on Thursday, a large move.

Banks took the largest losses by far. Citigroup plummeted $3.56, or 8 per cent, to $40.90 and Bank of America fell 96 cents, or 6.8 per cent, to $13.08.

Technology stocks also took hefty losses. Microsoft fell $1.94, or 3.7 per cent, to $49.97 and IBM gave up $7.29, or 4.7 per cent, to $148.06.

Banks have the most to lose in Britain’s departure from the EU as they do a lot of cross-border business in Europe based from their offices in London.

They also become less profitable when bond yields fall, since that lowers interest rates on many kinds of loans such as mortgages.