Sterling, the cleanest way to play the "Brexit" trade, climbed to a six-month high against the dollar, cementing an impressive 6 percent rise since last week as investors squared short positions ahead of the referendum later in the day.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.2 percent. Many markets in Asia were flat to slightly negative. Among the big losers were the Indonesian stock market .JKSE while Japan's Nikkei .N225led gainers.
Angus Nicholson, market analyst at IG in Melbourne, said that "markets are still incredibly nervous and some sharp market moves are likely over the next 24 hours."
Japanese shares prices rose on Thursday as investors covered short positions ahead of Britain's referendum, which could shape both Britain's economic future and that of the wider European integration project.
The Nikkei share average rose 1.1 percent to 16,238.35, its highest level in 10 days while the broader Topix gained 1.1 percent to 1,298.71.
China stocks fell on Thursday, but volumes were thin as most investors kept to the sidelines awaiting the outcome of Britain's vote on whether to leave the European Union.
The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.5 percent to 3,117.32 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index also lost 0.5 percent to 2,891.96.
In addition to Brexit fears, investors are also concerned about the health of China's economy, and the risk of a further weakening in the yuan
Hong Kong shares rose for their fifth straight day on Thursday, reflecting growing optimism that Britain will vote to stay in the European Union.
The Hang Seng index rose 0.4 percent, to 20,868.34, while the China Enterprises Index gained 0.3 percent, to 8,785.07 points.
Reference: Reuters
Thai
Eng