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European Markets: The Londonâs broader equity benchmark index FTSE 100 traded at 24.12 points or 0.33% higher at 7,433.25, the FTSE 250 index snapped at 36.26 points or 0.17% higher at 21,826.34, and the FTSE All-Share Index ended 12.03 points or 0.29% higher at 4,147.10 respectively. Another European equity benchmark index STOXX 600 ended up by 1.46 points or 0.34 per cent at 431.98.
European News:  In economic news, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) of the United Kingdom has stated that public sector jobs in United Kingdom are set to rise at the same pace as the private sector jobs, a phenomenon not seen since 2008. In a survey published by the institute on 17 February 2020, the underlining factor stated for the above development is the easing of austerity measures by the British government which had been in place for several months now on account of Pre-Brexit negative headwinds. In business news, investment manager Jupiter has agreed to buy Merian Global Investors. The group could now have around £65 billion of assets under management and will make it Britain's second-largest retail funds provider. After the news released, shares of Jupiter Fund Management accelerated by around 4 per cent. As per the data released by IHS Markit, the household finance index edged higher at 47.6 in February against 44.6 in January. The survey suggests - pick-up in housing prices is on the cards, slowing inflation rate and job security worries to be at ease.
London Stock Exchange (LSE)
Top LSE Stocks in the Gainers list*: ALLIED MINDS PLC (ALM), KIER GROUP PLC (KIE) and ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA GLOBAL HOLDING (AML) zoomed up by 6.77%, 6.26% and 4.81% respectively.
Top LSE Stocks traded in the red zone*: PETRA DIAMONDS (PDL), DE LA RUE PLC (DLAR) and SIRIUS MINERALS PLC (SXX) were hammered by 15.72%, 7.86% and 6.96% respectively.
FTSE 100 Index Performance
 FTSE-100 index 5-day performance â February 17th, 2020 (Source: Thomson Reuters)
Top FTSE 100 Stocks traded in the green zone*: AUTO TRADER GROUP PLC (AUTO), NMC HEALTH PLC (NMC), and CENTRICA PLC (CNA) surged by 2.51%, 2.45% and 2.19% respectively.
Top FTSE 100 Stocks traded in the red zone*: ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC (RBS), SEGRO PLC (SGRO), IMPERIAL BRANDS PLC (IMB) were hammered by 4.04%, 2.18% and 1.90% respectively.
Shares traded with high volume*: LLOYDS GRP. (LLOY), BARCLAYS PLC (BARC), and CENTRICA PLC (CNA).
Sectors in the positive zone*: Utilities (up 0.68%), Energy (up 0.50%), and Healthcare (up 0.45%).
Sector in the negative zone*: Technology (-0.31%).
Forex Rates*: GBP/USD and EUR/GBP were quoting at 1.3001 and 0.8333, respectively.
Bond Yields*: U.S 10-Year Treasuries yield was quoting at 1.588%, and the UK 10-Year Government Bond yield was trading at 0.642%, respectively.Â
*At the time of writing
