Expected price swings for some of the world's biggest currencies rocketed to multi-year highs on Thursday as a broad rush for US dollars forced traders to dump currencies across the board. Expected volatility gauges for the British pound against the dollar leapt to 24.4%, its highest level since before the 2016 Brexit vote. The pound tumbled to its lowest levels since 1985 in chaotic trading.
Similar moves were seen in euro-dollar one-month implied volatility, with the gauge rocketing to its highest level since the euro zone crisis at above 14%.