Markets: FTSE 100 adds to gains

• FTSE 100 up 0.2% to 6,846
• Gold down 0.36% to $1,181.96
• £/$ - 1.5517

FTSE 100

Property companies were among the best performers. British Land rose 2.3%, while Land Securities gained 2.1% and Hammerson added 1.6%. Building materials supplier CRH was the day's highest climber, up 2.3%.

In Europe's markets yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.7% to 4,971, and the German Xetra Dax added 0.6% to 11,332.

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In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 each rose 0.2% to 18,309 and 2,108 respectively, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.1% higher at 5,082.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.1% to 20,407, and the broader Topix index gained 0.2% to 1,651. And in China, the Shanghai Composite added 0.9% to 5,166, and the CSI 300 rose 0.5% to 5,335.

Brent spot was trading at $64.72 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $60.29. Spot gold was trading at $1,183 an ounce, silver was at $15.92, and platinum was at $1,099.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5511 and against the euro at 1.3819. The dollar was trading at 0.8909 against the euro and 123.68 against the Japanese yen.

And today, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ruled that Ryanair must reduce its stake in Aer Lingus from 29.8% to 5%. Ryanair has described the decision as "ridiculous", and plans to appeal. Aer Lingus is subject to a £1bn takeover bid by International Consolidated Airlines, owner of British Airways and Iberia.