AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Summary
- FTSE 100 has gained for the third consecutive week. The key index has advanced 14 per cent in November so far.
- Positive news around the Covid-19 vaccine has reinstated the hopes of a faster-than-expected recovery.
UK stock markets ended largely flat in the last week to Friday with the headline FTSE 100 posting a marginal gain led by the uptick in some of the heavyweight constituents. Notably, this was the third consecutive week in which the benchmark index has concluded in the positive territory after witnessing short-lived volatility on the back of macroeconomic data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The key index FTSE 100 has advanced approximately 14 per cent in the 15-day trading window so far in November. According to the official data available with the London Stock Exchange, FTSE 100 has amassed a gain of 13.88 per cent to 6,351.45 (20 November) from a level of 5,577.27 as on 30 October.
Investors were keen on the one-after-the-other outcomes of the Phase 3 clinical trials with regards to the development of the coronavirus vaccine. The ongoing Brexit discussions in connection to the trade deal between the UK and the EU are also being closely watched.
The markets retraced back the soaring trend observed in the present month after Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated that the nation would continue to develop irrespective of a conclusive trade deal with the EU.
On the other hand, the positive data around the Covid-19 vaccine reinstated the hopes of faster-than-expected recovery. Following the largely positive global cues, the UK markets have registered sharp gains in November after a 5 per cent-drop in October.
Among the top 10 heavyweight constituents of the FTSE 100, shares of Royal Dutch Shell have emerged as the lead gainers, whereas the stock of Unilever has remained a laggard in the past week.
Stock performance of FTSE 100, Royal Dutch Shell, and Unilever
(Source: Thomson Reuters)
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (LON: RDSA)
Shares of Netherlands-headquartered oil and gas behemoth Royal Dutch Shell gained nearly 7 per cent in the last week following an upbeat commentary on the near future performance of the stock from analysts in this month itself. The stock of Royal Dutch Shell soared as much as 6.8 per cent to GBX 1,244.80 from a share price level of 1,165.80 a piece on 13 November.
The present trading month has emerged as one of the favourable months for the shares of Royal Dutch Shell as the stock swiftly moved upwards near to its pre-pandemic levels. The stock of Royal Dutch Shell gained 28.9 per cent to GBX 1,244.80 from the market price of GBX 965.40 on 30 October.
Unilever Plc (LON: ULVR)
Shares of London-headquartered consumer goods maker Unilever ended the week in negative territory after losing a little more than 6 per cent in the five trading sessions. The stock of Unilever slipped as much as 6.17 per cent to GBX 4,456 from a share price level of 4,749 on 13 November.
Shares of Unilever have registered the largest loss among the top 10 constituents of FTSE 100 by market capitalisation in the last week. With the continuous dip in the share prices of Unilever during the last six trading sessions, Unilever shares stood with a gain of 1.18 per cent in the present month so far from the market price of GBX 4,404 on 30 October.
