Quick Review On The FTSE Index Performance

Global Markets: Benchmark indices in the United States were trading in green, as the technology benchmark index Nasdaq Composite surged by 55.83 points or 0.68% to 8,241.62, the S&P 500 index accelerated by 14.31 points or 0.48% to 3,024.60, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher at 26,988.24, up by 182.71 points or 0.68% (before the US market closed, at the time of writing 1:30 PM ET).

Global News: On 25^th October 2019, Wall Street opened as a mixed bag amidst global geopolitical tensions around Brexit and US China Trade dispute continued. Verizon stock was up 0.7 per cent after the company added more monthly subscribers than previously anticipated. Amazon.com stock decline 6 per cent as it forecasted the operating income below the market consensus and revenue and profit growth slowdown in the third quarter. Intel Corporation stock was up 3 per cent post the company reporting earnings above forecasts. Boeing stock was down 0.6 per cent following an Indonesian report blaming it for the fatal crash of a Lion Air flight that involved Boeing’s 737 Max jet. Anheuser Busch Inbev stock slipped 8.3 per cent after the brewer downgraded its full-year forecasts because of a decline in sales, especially in China, South Korea and Brazil.

S&P 500 (SPX)

Top Performers:Â ResMed Inc., IHS Markit Ltd. and Mohawk Industries Inc. were top gainers and increased by 12.11%, 7.31% and 7.01% respectively.

Worst Performers: Illumina Inc, Albemarle Corp. and VF Corp. were top losers and contracted by 9.84%, 9.19% and 7.08% respectively.

NASDAQ Composite (IXIC)

Top Performers: Anika Therapeutics Inc, Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc., and DMC Global Inc. were in bright spot and accelerated by 28.49%, 25.54% and 22.72% respectively.

Worst Performers:Â Lianluo Smart Ltd., Greenland Acquisition Corp. and BeyondSpring Inc. were the major beaten down stocks and plunged by 22.99%, 21.11% and 21.59% respectively.

Top Performing Sectors: Basic Materials (up 1.04%) and Utilities (up 0.19%).

Worst Performing Sectors: Financials (down 0.04%), Telecommunication services (down 0.11%) and Technologies (down 0.12%).

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)

Top Performers:Â Intel Corp., Caterpillar Inc and 3M Co. were in the bright spot and expanded by 6.49%, 2.18% and 1.95% respectively.

Worst Performers: Procter & Gamble Co., Boeing Co. and Coca Cola Co. were the top beaten down stocks and dipped by 0.89%, 0.95%, and 1.21% respectively.

European Markets: Broader equity benchmark index FTSE 100 closed at 3.78 points or 0.05% lower at 7,324.47, the FTSE 250 index plunged by 48.64 points or 0.24% lower at 20,103.51, and the FTSE All-Share Index ended 3.41 points or 0.09% lower at 4,030.10 respectively. European equity benchmark index STOXX 600 closed at 398.01 and dipped by 0.64 points or 0.16 per cent.

European News: In an attempt to give British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the parliament to decide on call by the administration for a snap election, the European Union did not set a new departure date but agreed to the request by the UK for a Brexit deadline extension on Friday. Mr Johnson has demanded a vote in parliament on Monday on whether to have a snap election on 12 December as he admitted that he will not meet his deadline of 31 October after his plans were thwarted by the lawmakers. After sterling edged lower as investors waited for decision by the EU on Brexit, exported stocks were boosted, but the FTSE 100 fell from a near one-month high on Friday, even as still headed for its best weekly performance in nine months.Â

London Stock Exchange*

Top Performers: WPP PLC (WPP), MEDICA GROUP PLC (MGP) and CHEMRING GROUP PLC (CHG) were in bright spot and expanded up by 6.66%, 5.18% and 4.75% respectively.

Worst Performers: SYNTHOMER PLC (SYNT), IP GROUP PLC (IPO) and ESSENTRA PLC (ESNT) were the major beaten down stocks and tumbled by 11.63%, 5.89% and 5.49% respectively.

FTSE 100 Index*

5 days share price performance (October-25-2019), before the market closed (Chart sourced from Thomson Reuters)

Top Gainers: WPP PLC (WPP), FRESNILLO PLC (FRES) and BURBERRY GROUP PLC (BRBY) were in bright spot and zoomed by 6.66%, 2.04% and 1.09% respectively.

Top Laggards: PRUDENTIAL PLC (PRU), HARGREAVES LANSDOWN PLC (HL.) and BRITISH LAND CO PLC (BLND) were the major beaten down stocks and tumbled by 2.88%, 2.73% and 2.56% respectively.

Volume Leaders: (LLOY) LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC; (BARC) BARCLAYS PLC; (VOD) VODAFONE GROUP PLC.

Best Performing Sector: Consumer Cyclicals (up 0.30%).

Worst Performing Sectors: Utilities (down 1.85%), Telecommunications Services (down 0.56%), and Financials (down 1.39%).

Currency Rates*: GBP/USD and EUR/GBP were quoting at 1.2826 and 0.8638, respectively.

10 Year Bond Yields*: U.S 10-Year Treasuries yield was quoting at 1.800%, and the UK 10-Year Government Bond yield was trading at 0.666%, respectivelyÂ

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*At the time of writing