LONDON MARKETS: FTSE 100, Pound Rises As Pro-union Campaign Is Back In The Lead

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks and the pound climbed on Thursday after a poll showed a lead for the camp against Scottish independence, calming fears of a breakup of the union.

The FTSE 100 index added 0.1% to 6,836.40, which would be the highest close this week. The pound (GBPUSD) rose to $1.6224, from $1.6202 Wednesday afternoon in New York.

Scottish referendum: The slight optimism in London came after a new survey on Scottish independence put the "no" vote back in the lead, only days after polls indicated the battle was neck to neck. According to a poll for the Daily Record, 53% of the voters prefer Scotland to remain in the U.K., giving the pro-union camp a six-point lead over the "yes" campaign.

Over the weekend, a YouGov poll had indicated a majority of voters would support a separation. The uncertainty on the future of the U.K. sent the pound and stocks sharply lower on Monday.

Movers: Shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS) added 2% after the bank said it would relocate its holding company to England in case of a "yes" vote for an independent Scotland.

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) also said it would move to England if the union is broken, sending the shares 0.8% higher.

Shares of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC inched 0.6% higher after the food retailer reported a drop in first-half profit, but raised its dividend and confirmed its full-year guidance.

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires