Markets: FTSE 100 back in the black

• FTSE 100 up 0.6% at 6,796
• Gold down 0.35% to $1,145.40
• £/$ - 1.5609

FTSE 100

Engineering group Weir was the day's top performer, adding 4.2%. Pearson gained 2.9% and Smiths Group was 2.2% higher.

In Europe's markets yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 rose 1.5% to 5,121, and the German Xetra Dax was 1.5% higher at 11,716.

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In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% to 18,120, the S&P 500 added 0.8% to 2,124, and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.3% higher at 5,163.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.3% to 20,650, and the broader Topix index rose 0.1% to 1,662. And in China, the CSI 300 rose 3.9% to 4,151, and the Shanghai Composite added 3.5% to 3,957.

Brent spot was trading at $57.14 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $50.98. Spot gold was trading at $1,145 an ounce, silver was at $14.98 and platinum was at $1,007.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5666 and against the euro at 1.4385. The dollar was trading at 0.9182 against the euro and 123.99 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, online gambling firm Bwin.party is to be bought by 888 Holdings for £898m. FTSE 250-listed, Gibraltar-based 888 beat off a rival bid of £906m from Aim-listed GVC.