Ftse 100 ceos

(Reuters) - London's main index rose on Monday as mining companies gained on upbeat data from China and progress in U.S.-Sino trade talks, though easyJet's weak trading update pulled down airline stocks. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.6 percent by 0826 GMT. The more domestically focussed FTSE 250 rose 0.7 percent. Mining shares jumped 2 percent to a 10-month high as base metals prices rose, including nickel. Data suggested that stimulus measures in China, the world's biggest nickel consumer, are boosting the economy. Trade progress also helped shares in HSBC and luxury brand Burberry. "The trade deal is going very well," U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Friday. Trade talks between the world's two largest economies is set to resume this week. However, the Brexit conundrum continued, with parliament set to vote on different Brexit options later in the day. The default remained for the UK to fall out of the European Union without a deal on April 12. All sectors of the FTSE 100 had risen, … [Read more...] about FTSE 100 lifted by mining, bank shares; easyJet drags down airlines

(Reuters) - Britain's main stock index inched higher on Wednesday, led by gains in oil majors although investors remained cautious after Prime Minister Theresa May's revised Brexit deal was defeated in parliament on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent and the FTSE 250 was roughly flat by 0835 GMT. Oil heavyweights Shell and BP boosted the main bourse as oil prices rose on ongoing supply cuts from producer group OPEC and U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. The index was also supported by Standard Life Aberdeen which rose 3 percent after posting full-year results and saying that it was doing away with a dual-CEO management structure. Lawmakers voted against May's amended Brexit deal by 391 to 242 on Tuesday, forcing parliament to decide whether to back a no-deal Brexit or seek a last-minute delay to the process. Parliament will vote later on Wednesday on whether to leave the bloc with no deal. If a no-deal exit plan is rejected, a vote on Thursday will decide whether to seek … [Read more...] about FTSE 100 edges up on oil strength ahead of another key Brexit vote

(Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 slipped again on Friday as gambling firm GVC plunged as its top executives cut stakes, while weak Chinese export data rekindled global growth fears and investors remained daunted by Europe's central bank's downbeat economic outlook. Struggling department store Debenhams was a bright spot on the UK indexes after Sports Direct's Mike Ashley made a move towards running the more than 240-year-old company. The main index and the FTSE 250 were both down 0.6 percent by 0913 GMT. GVC plunged almost 16 percent hitting its lowest level since July 2016 and on track for its steepest drop in nearly nine years after its chairman and CEO sold some of their holdings in the company. The fall in British stocks was in line with global mood that dragged Shanghai stocks by their most in five months. Debenhams jumped 24 percent after Sports Direct Chief Executive Ashley's plans to forego his current role at Sports Direct to focus on small-cap Debenhams. Sports Direct, … [Read more...] about Bookie GVC, weak China data lead to bets against FTSE 100

(Reuters) - Britain's blue-chip index inched lower and off its four-month high, as a weaker dollar weighed on exporter stocks while consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser jumped after forecast-beating sales growth. The FTSE 100 index and the midcap bourse were 0.2 percent lower by 0834 GMT. The dollar weakened as investors took to risky assets on optimism surrounding the Sino-U.S. trade situation, with another round of talks set for this week. But that dragged down the multinational stocks such as Diageo, British American Tobacco and GlaxoSmithKline on the main London bourse, which earns 70 percent of its income abroad. Reckitt was a ray of sunshine, rising 3 percent as its fourth-quarter sales growth topped estimates. "These results look strong enough to support the shares and keep the bulls onside," Jefferies analysts wrote. British Gas owner Centrica dipped 2 percent to be the worst blue-chip faller after broker Berenberg downgraded to "Hold". Small caps outperformed the main … [Read more...] about FTSE 100 lower as weak dollar hits exporters but Reckitt shines after results

By Helen ReidLONDON (Reuters) - Concerns about growth, doubts about a U.S.-China trade truce, and a rising pound drove Britain's top stock index down on Tuesday.gi The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> fell 0.4 percent by 0940 GMT, tracking losses in global stocks as investors' optimism on a deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to delay tariffs evaporated.A jump in sterling also weighed the exporter-heavy index down. The currency rose as much as 0.9 percent after an adviser to the European Union's highest court said Britain should be allowed to unilaterally revoke its departure notice.Investors were on tenterhooks as the British parliament began five days of debates on Prime Minister May's Brexit deal ahead of a crucial Dec 11 vote."We're fairly neutral on the UK, but we're playing it mainly through passive exposure - because you get the benefit of the currency if it weakens," said Rory McPherson, investment director at Psigma Investment Management. Mining … [Read more...] about Sterling rally weighs FTSE 100 down as Brexit and growth anxieties dominate