RIGHT to the end, the opinion polls said the referendum race was too close to call.

But the money markets, bookmakers and betting exchanges have taken a different view in the final week before polling.

All have shown a confidence in a Remain vote that belied the pollsters' neck-and-neck findings.

Despite fears of a Brexit 'Black Friday' that could send the pound spiralling and wipe billions off the value of shares, sterling has strengthened against the US dollar.

As the campaign entered its final month and it became clear the outcome was in doubt, the value of the pound began to slide.

Then, from June 7 to June 14 it dipped sharply, from $1.45 to $1.41.

But from June 17 it rallied strongly, returning to $1.48, the level it was trading at a month ago.

The spread betting markets have told a similar story.

Odds on a Leave win, which had shortened in the penultimate week of campaigning, began to drift out once more at the same time.

By early evening on polling day, trader on betting exchange Betfair gave Remain an 84 per cent chance of victory.

Leave was only given a 16 per cent chance.

Traders - who have staked a staggering£63million on the referendum - believed the result would be tight, with most predicting Remain to take between 51 per cent and 55 per cent.

However, few were in doubt about the outcome.

Traditional bookmakers also reflected growing confidence in a Remain win.

On polling day, William Hill offered odds of 1/8 on Remain and made Leave a long-shot at 5/1.

The pound rallied and the odds on Leave began to tumble a week ago, when the campaign was halted in the wake of the brutal killing of Yorkshire MP Jo Cox.

The delay halted the momentum that was being built up by the Leave campaign.

As the nation mourned Remain activist Ms Cox, the public mood also appeared to harden against the harsh tone of the Leave campaign's anti-immigration warnings.

On the final Sunday before polling, as campaigning resumed, leading figures in the Remain campaign were united in condemning Ukip leader Nigel Farage's 'Breaking Point' poster, describing it as 'vile,' 'disgraceful,' and 'racist'.

The referendum may not have inspired the public but the fractious battle has not put them off gambling.

Betfair spokeswoman Naomi Totten said: "The sheer volume of money being traded on this market is phenomenal with over £63million now matched and £12million of that being traded today alone.

"The largest betting market in Betfair Exchange history is £102million on a World Cup cricket match in 2015.

"It is unlikely that the Brexit market will surpass that, but we are predicting that it will sit comfortably in the top 10 markets of all time."

Hills, meanwhile, began to price the fallout from the referendum.

The bookmaker took a string of bets which halved the odds on Theresa May succeeding David Cameron as Conservative leader.

The Home Secretary was bet down from odds of 6/1 to 3/1, making her the clear second favourite after Boris Johnson, on 11/4.

"Ms May had drifted right out in the odds over recent months, finding very little support with political punters, but suddenly she seems to be back in favour and the money is hinting that she might be well placed to be a serious contender for the top job," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

However, he said she could face a challenge from rising star Ruth Davidson, who was rated top performer in the BBC's final live television debate.

The odds on her becoming UK Tory leader have been cut from 33/1 to 16/1.

Other contenders include Justice Secretary and leading Brexit campaigner Michael Gove on 7/1 and Inverness-born Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb on 14/1.

Mr Cameron, who has said he will not contest the next general election in 2020, is a 6/4 shot to step down before the end of the year.