London Report: FTSE is bolstered by doveish Bank data and thin trading
THE FTSE yesterday ended slightly higher in thin trade, boosted by a doveish message from the Bank of England.
Britain’s leading index closed 24.26 points higher, or 0.4 per cent, at 6,656.68 points after a choppy session marked by low trading activity.
Shares in G4S, the world’s biggest security company, led advances, up 5.3 per cent at 273.50p, after the group posted a better-than-expected rise in first-half operating profit.
Housebuilders and lenders benefited from the latest projection for UK rates, with Royal Bank of Scotland up 1.87 per cent to 348.40p, Persimmon 1.57 per cent higher at 1,296p and Redrow ahead 2.45 per cent to 247.10p.
The calmer situation in Ukraine helped Thomas Cook rise 3.62 per cent to 123p and easyJet to lift by 2.5 per cent to 1,290p.
The biggest fallers were insurer Admiral down 5.45 per cent at 1,371p and miners Rio Tinto down 2.60 per cent at 3,423.5p and Glencore down 2.53 per cent at 365.50p.
BT was down 1.63 per cent at 368.60p.