Markets: FTSE 100 continues its rise

FTSE 100 up 0.3% to 6,962
Gold up 0.3% to $1,171.11/oz
£/$ - 1.4753

Precious metals miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources took the top two spots, climbing 5.4% and 3.2% respectively. At the other end of the table, Next slid 4% despite reporting a 12.5% rise in profits for the year.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% to 17,959, the S&P 500 lost 0.5% to 2,089, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.2% higher at 4,992.

MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% to 19,560, and the broader Topix index gained 0.3% to 1,580. And in China, the Shanghai Composite rose 1% to 3,617, and the CSI 300 added 1.4% to 3,892.

Brent spot was trading at $54.21 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $43.65. Spot gold was trading at $1,171 an ounce, silver was at $16.13 and platinum was at $1,120.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.4735 and against the euro at 1.3800. The dollar was trading at 0.9365 against the euro and 120.89 against the Japanese yen.

And today, Lloyds Banking Group has sold its 50% of TSB to Sabadell, Spain's fifth-largest bank, in a deal worth £1.7bn. TSB floated on the stock exchange last June a 260p a share Sabadell is to pay 340p a share.

MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.