Get 40% Off
💰 Buffett reveals a $6.7B stake in Chubb. Copy the full portfolio for FREE with InvestingPro’s Stock Ideas toolCopy Portfolios

UPDATE 2-FTSE 100 boosted by cyclical stocks, but suffers weekly loss

Published 17/04/2020, 10:08
UK100
-
GILD
-
RIO
-
BHPB
-
ABF
-
RIO
-
FTMC
-
FTNMX405010
-
FTNMX551030
-
GLEN
-
CINE
-
FOXT
-

(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
* FTSE 100 up 2.8%, FTSE 250 adds 3.1%
* Rio Tinto surges after upbeat Q1 production
* Foxtons soars on new share issuance, furlough
* UK markets still end with weekly loss

(Updates with market closing)
By Devik Jain and Sruthi Shankar
April 17 (Reuters) - British shares closed higher on Friday
as investors cheered plans for a gradual restarting of the U.S.
economy and encouraging data emerged on a possible treatment for
COVID-19.
The commodity-heavy FTSE 100 index .FTSE closed up 2.8%,
boosted by oil majors BP BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L
which added 4% and 5.5% respectively, though on the week the
index fell 0.95%.
Miners .FTNMX1770 gained after the world's top iron ore
miner Rio Tinto RIO.L RIO.AX posted higher-than-expected
quarterly production, sending its shares up 3.3%. Other cyclical sectors such as banks, travel and leisure,
insurers and industrials all rose.
Markets globally extended their gains for a second straight
week as the United States joined other countries in unveiling
lockdown exit plans with a staggered, three-stage approach
following signs new virus cases were flattening. Further helping the mood, a report detailed positive partial
data from trials of U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc 's
GILD.O experimental drug in severe COVID-19 patients.
"There's a lot of hope in the market that things might go
back to normal slowly," said Keith Temperton, a sales trader at
brokerage Tavira Securities.
"It's a bit presumptive. We know the governments will try
and open up economies, but supply chains are going to be
hampered for longer and consumers will be far more reluctant to
get back to normal," Temperton added.
The FTSE 100 has recovered about 18% since its mid-March
lows as policymakers injected billions in stimulus response
measures.
Further gains will likely be put to the test next week, with
the release of UK jobs data and business activity figures, while
European companies are likely to report the steepest profit fall
since the 2008 global financial meltdown. The more domestically focused FTSE 250 midcap index .FTMC
closed up 3.1%, with travel and leisure stocks .FTNMX5750 ,
among the worst hit this year, up 6.3%. Cineworld CINE.L
surged 21.4%.
Despite Friday's bounce, both major FTSE indexes recorded
modest weekly losses as the UK government extended its lockdown
for at least another three weeks.
Paddy Power Betfair parent Flutter Entertainment FLTRF.L
jumped about 16% after saying revenue had been more resilient to
coronavirus disruption than expected. Real estate agent Foxtons FOXT.L surged 22% after issuing
new shares and furloughing about 750 employees to shore up its
finances. Hotel operator Whitbread rose 4.8% after confirming it was
able to access the government's funding facility.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.