Market impact, debt ceiling and Washington gridlock: Investors' big questions as US election race hots up

Six weeks until result

Investors are struggling to weigh up the longer-term implications of the US presidential election on portfolios, after short-term market volatility passes, with the final result still too close to call.

Currency markets and the pollsters called last week's debate a win for Hillary Clinton, but commentators acknowledge forecasting the election result on 8 November is difficult given the 'Trump effect' is hard to quantify, while failure to predict the Brexit result challenges traditional polling methods. With the final result tight, many investors predict market volatility in the run-up to the vote and during the immediate aftermath, whatever the outcome, but particularly if Donald Trump is victorious. Ian Rees, head of research at Premier Asset Management, commented: "You have to be a...