Financial markets jolted as US election polls tighten: Wall Street ‘fear gauge’ jumps as investors rethink long-held bets on Clinton victory

Financial markets jolted as US election polls tighten: Wall Street ‘fear gauge’ jumps as investors rethink long-held bets on Clinton victory, by Nicole Bullock.

A Washington Post-ABC News tracking poll released on Tuesday showed Mr Trump with a one-point lead over Mrs Clinton nationally [down from a 12-point deficit two weeks ago], marking the first time that the Republican has held a lead in that poll since May.

In the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls, Mrs Clinton now leads Mr Trump by just 2.2 points — down from a 7 point lead just two weeks ago.

Real Clear Politicsw poll 2 Nov

“Markets are now going to have to recalibrate for a coin toss outcome versus what they thought was a sure thing,” said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at Convergex. “That will happen headline by headline and tick by tick until next Tuesday.”