Markets: FTSE 100 rises on positive economic data

The FTSE 100 saw stocks rise yesterday after the UK enjoyed a rise in retail sales in November. The index rose 0.7% to close at 6,102.

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  • FTSE 100 up 0.7% to 6,102
  • Gold down 1.97% to 1,051.14/oz
  • £/$ - 1.4901

FTSE 100

Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered was once again the day's top performer, up 7.3%. Inmarsat added 4.2%, Old Mutual gained 4.1% and Hikma Pharmaceuticals was 3.2% higher.

In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 gained 1.1% to 4,677, and the German Xetra Dax added 2.6% to 10,738.

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In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.4% to 17,495, the S&P 500 lost 1.5% to 2,041, and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.4% lower at 5,002.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 slid 1.9% to 18,986, and the broader Topix index fell 1.8% 1,537. And in China, the CSI 300 added 0.3% to 3,767, and the Shanghai Composite slipped one point to 3,746.

Brent spot was trading at $37.24 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $35.02. Spot gold was trading at $1,054 an ounce, silver was at $13.72 and platinum was at $839.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.4907 and against the euro at 1.3778. The dollar was trading at 0.9242 against the euro and 121.74 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, Britain's last deep coal mine, Kellingley colliery in Yorkshire, closes today. The mine, which can produce 900 tonnes of coal an hour, has operated since 1965. It follows the closure of Maltby, Hatfield and Thoresby mines earlier in the year and brings 160 years of deep pit coal mining in the UK to an end.

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