Britons are about to decide the fate of all global markets…

Business Insider reports the latest polls show the “Leave” forces are taking a sizable lead over the “Remain” camp in the modern day “Battle of Britain.”

[The “Leave” campaign is a British grassroots movement pushing Britain to regain its sovereignty and leave the European Union (EU). The Establishment “Remain” party argues Britain should stay a part of the 28-nation block. The June 23 referendum is often referred to as “Brexit”—a combination of “Britain” and “exit.”]

A fourth major poll on Tuesday indicated a large (and growing) lead for “Leave” supporters. Of those polled, 47% want to leave the EU and 40% prefer to remain (with 13% undecided). Leave forces also took the lead in both phone and online polling… indicating a broader demographic in support of Brexit than expected.

If the U.K. votes to leave next week, many pundits see it as the beginning of the end for the entire EU project.

Great Britain joined the European Common Market in 1973. But what began as a free trade zone soon morphed into the European Union.

It became an unaccountable “superstate” with its own central bank… its own undemocratic commission of bureaucrats in charge… and even plans to raise its own European army.

Political considerations aside, world financial markets are focused on the currency issue at hand…

A Brexit could spark another massive spike higher in the U.S. dollar—as global currency traders flee out of a volatile pound and euro into the relative safety of the U.S. greenback. And that could send every other market on Earth reeling…

Here’s what Tom wrote about the impact of the currency markets in January:

Imagine the global financial markets as the gearing system on a bicycle.

The commodity and stock markets are small cogs on the back wheel, spinning fast. And two even tinier wheels spinning extra fast are the futures and options markets.

Then there’s the big cog that moves slowly. It’s the largest cog on the bike, where the pedals are. It makes all the other gears spin.

The big cog in the investment universe is the currency market.

When you understand the trends in the currency market, you can make high-probability assumptions about all other markets. All your trading decisions will fall into place after that.

Bottom line: A “Leave” Brexit victory will mean a stronger dollar ahead… part of something Tom calls “The Great Unwinding.” Make sure you’ve positioned your portfolio for “maximum defense.” Stay long gold and U.S. dollars… and follow PBRG’s risk-management protocol to the letter.