UK Market News: The London markets traded in the green zone, reflecting positive investor confidence regarding Covid-19 vaccination rollout. FTSE 100 surged by around 2.52%, driven by vaccine hopes and substantial gains in the mining & energy stocks because of rising commodity prices. Oil prices surged to its highest levels in the last 13 months.
London-listed Engineering Company Rolls-Royce had appointed Panos Kakoullis as its chief financial officer and executive director. Mr Kakoullis will take his post with effect from 03 May 2021. The shares jumped by approximately 3.06%.
UK pub operator Mitchells & Butlers shares went up by around 7.61% after it updated that it would raise 350 million pounds through an open offer. The Company had also reached its agreement with Banks for a new 150 million pounds revolving credit facilities to strengthen its balance sheet.
Mining Stocks like Anglo American, Rio Tinto and BHP Group surged by approximately 4.86%, 3.86% and 3.75%, respectively, as copper prices had touched its highest in more than eight years.
Learning Technologies Group had agreed to acquire getBridge LLC and related assets for a total consideration of USD 50.0 million. This acquisition deal is expected to be completed on 27 February 2021. The shares went up by around 2.20%.
European Indices Performance (at the time of writing):
FTSE 100 Index One Year Performance (as on 15 February 2021)
1 Year FTSE 100 Chart (Source: Refinitiv, Thomson Reuters)
Top 3 Volume Stocks in FTSE 100*: Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY); BP Plc (BP.); Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc (RR.).
Top 3 Sectors traded in green*: Energy (+5.36%), Basic Materials (+3.34%) and Financials (+2.89%).
Top Sector traded in red*: Healthcare (-0.03%).
London Stock Exchange: Stocks Performance (at the time of writing)
Crude Oil Future Prices*: Brent future crude oil (future) price and WTI crude oil (future) price were hovering at $63.24/barrel and $60.13/barrel, respectively.
Gold Price*: Gold price was quoting at US$1,818.90 per ounce, down by 0.24% against the prior day closing.
Currency Rates*: GBP to USD: 1.3913; EUR to GBP: 0.8721.
Bond Yields*: US 10-Year Treasury yield: 1.210%; UK 10-Year Government Bond yield: 0.573%.
*At the time of writing