Markets: commodity stocks lift FTSE 100

• FTSE 100 up 0.9% to 6,393
• Gold up 0.1% to 1,072.20/oz
• £/$ - 1.5102

FTSE 100

Commodity stocks drove the index higher. Glencore was the day's top performer with a 5.8% rise, while Anglo American added 4.1% and Fresnillo rose 3.9%. BHP Billiton, however, fell 2.4% after a UN report accused it of a "clearly insufficient" response to the dam break in Brazil, which it said contained "high levels" of toxic chemicals.

In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 rose 1.1% to 4,946, and the German Xetra Dax added 1.4% to 11,320.

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In the US, markets were closed for a public holiday.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 19,883, and the broader Topix index lost 0.5% to 1,594. And in China, the CSI 300 slid 5.4% to 3,556, and the Shanghai Composite was 5.5% lower at 3,436.

Brent spot was trading at $45.08 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $42.19. Spot gold was trading at $1,068 an ounce, silver was at $14.12 and platinum was at $847.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5085 and against the euro at 1.4213. The dollar was trading at 0.9421 against the euro and 122.40 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, house price growth slowed to 0.1% in November, according to the latest figures from the Nationwide. Year-on-year, prices rose by 3.7%, down from 3.9% in October. The average property now costs £196,305.