Global Markets: Broader Indexes in the United States closed in green, with the S&P 500 Index ended 28.12 points or 0.96% higher at 2,945.64, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index shuts at 26,504.95 and added 197.16 points or 0.75% against the previous day close, and the technology benchmark index Nasdaq Composite ended the session on Friday at 127.22 points or 1.58% higher at 8,164.00.
Global News: Latest data showed the U.S. job growth surged in April and added 263,000 Jobs in April, beating market expectations for an increase of 185,000 jobs. The unemployment rate falls to 3.6 per cent from 3.8 per cent, falling to its lowest level in more than 49-years. However, the wage growth remained subdued.
European Markets: The Londonâs broader equity benchmark index FTSE 100 traded 29.33 points or 0.40% higher at 7,380.64, the FTSE 250 index snapped 18.51 points or 0.09% higher at 19,705.17, and the FTSE All-Share Index ended 13.83 points or 0.34% higher at 4,046.86 respectively. Another European benchmark index STOXX 600 ended 1.53 points or 0.39% higher at 390.37 respectively.
European News Early results of local elections show both Conservatives and Labour lost support, indicating English voters frustrated with the deadlock over Brexit. The pro-EU Liberal Democrat was the main beneficiary of the swing. The FTSE 100 was up on Friday, after three sessions of losses, as miners snapped a seven-day losing streak and HSBC reported a better-than-expected profit.
London Stock Exchange
Top Risers Stocks: BROWN(N.) GRP. PLC (BWNG), ULTRA ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS PLC (ULE), and CONVATEC GROUP PLC (CTEC) surged by 6.34 per cent, 5.28 per cent and 5.05 per cent respectively.
Top Fallers Stocks: CAPITAL & REGIONAL PLC (CAL), CARPETRIGHT PLC (CPR) and SEVERFIELD PLC (SFR) declined by 5.48 per cent, 5.00 per cent and 4.89 per cent respectively.
FTSE 100 Index
FTSE100 Index: 5-days Price Chart as on May 03, 2019. (Source: Thomson Reuters)
Top Performers Stocks: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC (SN), OCADO GROUP PLC (OCDO) and ANGLO AMERICAN PLC (AAL) were up by 3.29 per cent, 2.60 per cent and 2.34 per cent respectively.
Top Laggards Stocks: EASYJET PLC (EZJ), INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED AIRLINES GROUP S.A. (IAG) and HISCOX LTD (HSX) declined by 2.10 per cent, 2.05 per cent and 1.93 per cent respectively.
Top Volume Leaders: Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY), VODAFONE GROUP PLC (VOD) and HSBC HOLDINGS PLC (HSBA).
Top Performers Sectors: Technology, Basic Materials and Healthcare.
Top Fallers Sector: Telecommunications Services.
Foreign Exchange and Fixed Income
FX Rates*: GBP/USD and EUR/GBP were exchanging at 1.3173 and 0.8505 respectively.
10-Year Bond Yields*: US 10Y Treasury and UK 10Y Bond yields were trading at 2.527% and 1.215% respectively.
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*At the time of writing