(Bloomberg) -- The aftershocks from Britain’s political earthquake buffeted markets and policy makers, creating political upheaval in London, dismay in European capitals and panic on trading floors around the world.

The pound plunged to the lowest since 1985, global stocks tumbled and bonds and gold rallied after U.K. voters decided in a referendum to leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, saying he’d serve another three months, after a 52 percent majority rejected his pro-EU campaign.

“The British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path, and as such, I think the country requires fresh leadership,” Cameron told reporters outside his Downing Street residence, choking back tears. A jubilant Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party, said “the euroskeptic genie is out of the bottle and it will now not be put back.”