Highlights
- FTSE 100 was managing to trade in positive territory, up by 0.22% at 7,127, while mid-cap focused FTSE 250 has slipped into red in the mid-afternoon trade.
- Oxford Nanopore Technology Plc made a strong listing on the London Stock Exchange, rising over 45% on market debut.
FTSE 100, despite losing some momentum, was managing to trade in positive territory, up by 0.22% at 7,127, while mid-cap focused FTSE 250 has slipped into the red after a good start, down by 0.15% at 23,117 in the mid-afternoon trade at 12:24 pm GMT+1.
The blue-chip index was supported by the mining and oil sector stocks, which traded higher after the rebound in the UK’s GDP numbers to 5.5%, as per the data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The number was above the initial market estimates of 4.8%.
Meanwhile, Oxford Nanopore Technology Plc made a strong listing on the London Stock Exchange, rising over 45% on market debut, valuing the firm at 5 billion pounds. The biotech firm focuses on DNA and RNA analysis and also provide a rapid Covid-19 test kit.
Top five FTSE100 gainers
Anglo American plc (2.70%), Diageo plc (2.37%), Evraz plc (2.22%), Rio Tinto plc (1.65%), Smiths Group Plc (1.62%),
Top five FTSE100 losers
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (-3.42%), Rolls Royce Holdings Plc (-3.25%), British American Tobacco plc (-3.03%), Barratt Developments plc (-2.89%), Melrose Industries plc (-2.76%),
European Markets
Major European market indexes are trading in red, witnessing some profit booking after yesterday’s rise. The German blue-chip DAX index is down by 0.32% at 15,315, while the benchmark index of France, CAC 40, was at 6,557, down by 0.10%. France, which is one of the largest economies in the Eurozone, reported a revival in consumer spending in August 2021. Consumer spending was up by 1% compared to a decline of 2.4% in the previous month.
Currency Markets
The pound rebounded after two consecutive days of fall and was trading at 1.3477, up by 0.41% against the dollar, while the EUR/ GBP currency pair traded at 0.8597, down by 0.42%. The pound covered some losses against the dollar, though it is likely to remain under pressure in near term due to various domestic as well as global reasons.
Commodities
WTI crude oil future contract traded at USD 73.64, down by 1.56%, while the Brent crude oil traded at USD 77.05, down by 1.36%. Crude oil prices continue to trade under pressure after the rise in the US crude oil inventories. The US oil reserve increased to 418.5 million barrels, a rise of 4.6 million barrels.
Meanwhile, the gold futures contract traded in the green, up by 0.54% at USD 1,732 per ounce.
Asian Markets
Major Asia Pacific indexes made a mixed closing. Australia’s ASX200 closed at 7,332, up by 1.88%, while Nikkei 225 of Japan was down by 0.31% at 29,452. India’s Nifty 50 closed at 17,618, down by 0.53%, the Hang Seng index closed at 24,575, down by 0.36%, while the Shanghai Composite of China closed at 3,568, up by 0.90%.