AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
Highlights
- FTSE100 trades higher by 1.19% at 6,985, while the mid-cap focused FTSE250 index was at 23,586, up by 0.79%.
- The inaugural green gilt bond issued by the UK government has received a good response from the investors.
FTSE100 trades in the positive terrain on Tuesday first half session of trade. The blue-chip index is up by 1.19% at 6,985, while the mid-cap focused FTSE250 index traded at 23,586, up by 0.79%. The positive sentiments emanated from the Asian peers, most of which ended with good gains after the last session’s sharp fall.
Meanwhile, the inaugural green gilt bond issued by the UK government has received a good response from the investors with a record number of bids placing worth £90 billion for a 12-year bond with a yield of about 0.9%, maturing in July 2033. The bond proceeds will be spent on environmental projects like renewable energy and low carbon emission technologies. The government plans to raise £15 billion through green gilt bonds in 2021, with additional bond sales expected next month.
Top five FTSE100 gainers
Pershing Square Holdings Ltd (5.78%), Antofagasta plc (4.80%), Royal Dutch Shell Plc B Shares (4.42%), BHP Group Plc (3.46%), International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (2.76%).
Top five FTSE100 losers
Kingfisher (-5.73%), Compass Group plc (-2.29%), JD Sports Fashion plc (-1.36%), Polymetal International plc (-0.85%), B&M European Value Retail SA (-0.70%)
European Markets
Major European indexes are trading in the green. The German blue-chip DAX index is up by 1.49% at 15,357, while the benchmark index of France, CAC 40, was at 6,553, up by 1.52%. Germany, the largest economy in the Eurozone, plans to issue a total debt of 104 billion euros in the last three months of 2021. The Federal Finance Agency of Germany plans to raise 47 billion on capital market and 57 billion euros through the money market.
Currency Markets
The pound strengthened against the dollar at 1.3678, up by 0.16%, while the EUR/ GBP currency pair traded at 0.8579, down by 0.07%. The dollar is trading under pressure against major European currencies ahead of the two-day US Federal Reserve meeting, which starts from today.
Commodities
WTI crude oil future contract traded at USD 70.97, up by 1.18%, while the Brent crude oil trades at USD 74.67, up by 1.01%. Crude oil prices recovered after yesterday’s fall of over 3% following a report of lower output from the Gulf of Mexico till the end of this year due to damage caused by two storms that hit the oil production site in the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Gold futures contract continues to trade in the green zone, up by 0.20% at USD 1,767 per ounce.
Asian Markets
Major Asia Pacific indexes bounced back after yesterday’s fall, closing the day in the green. Hang Seng index closed at 24,221, up by 0.51%, India’s Nifty 50 closed at 17,562, up by 0.95%. Australia’s ASX200 closed at 7,273, up by 0.35%, while Nikkei 225 of Japan closed in red at 29,839 after opening for trade following a three-day break due to weekly off and public holidays.
