London’s FTSE 100 was up 1.2% at 7,080.51 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Mining stocks were the top performers as metals prices gained, with Anglo American, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto and BHP all higher. The sector was boosted more broadly by renewed optimism over the global economy.
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust was also in the black. IG market analyst Chris Beauchamp said it’s a fund with a heavy focus on tech and has risen “as the Nasdaq 100 and its heavyweight names stages a recovery”.
On the downside, retailer Next, B&Q owner Kingfisher and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey were all weaker as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
NatWest was on the back foot after the bank pleaded guilty to breaches of money-laundering regulations and warned it will book a provision in its third-quarter results related to a potential fine.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Anglo American (AAL) 2,663.00p 5.42%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,350.00p 5.30%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 472.40p 4.86%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,992.50p 4.35%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,600.00p 3.26%
BHP Group (BHP) 1,894.60p 3.24%
Evraz (EVR) 579.60p 3.21%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 3,470.00p 2.91%
Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 1,383.00p 2.67%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 417.00p 2.63%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,373.00p -2.97%
Next (NXT) 7,514.00p -1.83%
Kingfisher (KGF) 317.70p -1.52%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 553.60p -1.46%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 146.15p -1.25%
NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P (NWG) 225.40p -1.18%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 1,638.50p -1.18%
Admiral Group (ADM) 3,078.00p -1.09%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,236.00p -0.60%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 179.50p -0.39%
