A city worker looks at a stock ticker screen at the London Stock Exchange in the City of London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday August 25, 2015. The FTSE 100 Index bounced back above the 6,000 mark after surging by nearly 2% as it recovered following one of its worst sessions in recent years. See PA story CITY FTSE. Photo credit should read: Philip Toscano/PA Wire
European markets started the week in positive territory, with all the leading financial indices enjoying gains today.
London’s blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 94.56 points, or 1.6%, at 5,846.79, while the German Dax and French Cac 40 rose by 3.13% and 2.55% respectively.
But Brent crude was down by more than 8% at the London market close, to $22.80 a barrel, as storage concerns weighed heavily on sentiment in advance of global oil production cuts.
Russ Mould, investment director at financial services firm AJ Bell, said: “Markets kicked off the week in a good mood, thanks to a plethora of information about how certain countries plan to come out of lockdown and further central bank stimulus.”
Shares in easyJet rose early 2.8% to £5.89 after the budget airline said investors were to vote on founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s attempt to oust its chief executive and chairman.
EasyJet will hold a general meeting on May 22 for the vote to take place.
The pound was slightly higher against the US dollar at $1.24 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to Downing Street nearly a month after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Footsie on the rise but Brent crude starts off the week in reverse
