Dollar hit after some polls show Trump leading Clinton

London

THE dollar slumped and the Swiss franc and Japanese yen surged on Wednesday as investors worried by the prospect of a Donald Trump victory in next week's US presidential election sought out safe havens for their money.

The yen, driven lower in the past month as investors abandoned long-term bets on it strengthening past 100 yen per dollar, gained more than half a per cent to hit its highest since Oct 21. The franc hit its highest in a month against the greenback and a four-month peak against the euro. It has gained almost 3 per cent in the past week against the dollar as improving polls for Mr Trump prompted investors to trim bets on a rise in US interest rates in December.