Markets: FTSE 100 boosted by energy stocks

The FTSE 100 went into the long weekend on a positive note, adding 0.9% to close at 6,247.

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  • FTSE 100 up 0.9% to 6,247.94
  • Gold up 0.11% to $1,134.80
  • £/$ - 1.5345

FTSE 100

Energy stocks were among the best performers. BG Group led the sector up with a 3.4% rise, while Royal Dutch Shell added 2.8% and BP gained 2.7%. Highest climber of the day was satellite operator Inmarsat, which rose 4.9%.

In Europe's markets yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 fell 0.5% to 4,652, and the German Xetra Dax was 0.4% lower at 10,259.

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In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% to 16,528, the S&P 500 lost 0.8% to 1,972, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.1% to 4,776.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 and the broader Topix index each slid 3.8% to 18,165 and 1,478 respectively. And in China, the CSI 300 slipped 0.1% to 3,362, and the Shanghai Composite fell 1.2% to 3,166.

Brent spot was trading at $52.74 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $47.65. Spot gold was trading at $1,143 an ounce, silver was at $14.62 and platinum was at $1,012.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5377 and against the euro at 1.3583. The dollar was trading at 0.8833 against the euro and 120.06 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, the Oil and Gas Authority has given the go ahead for Danish company Maersk to develop the Culzean gas field, the biggest deposit to be discovered in the last ten years. The field could contain the equivalent of 300 million barrels of oil, and will produce enough gas to meet 5% of the country's energy needs, and create 400 jobs.

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