Markets: FTSE100 ends the week on a high note

published 25 January 2016

FTSE 100 up 2.2% to 5,900
Gold down 0.29% to 1,098.00/oz
£/$ - 1.4265

FTSE 100

Energy stocks were among the best performers of the day. Royal Dutch Shell added 5.5%, and BG rose 5.1%, while BP was 3.1% higher.

Sports Direct was once again the day's highest climber with a 6.3% gain.

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In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 rose 3.1% to 4,336, and the German Xetra Dax added 2% to 9,764.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% to 16,093, the S&P 500 rose 2% to 1,906, and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.7% to 4,591.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.9% to 17,110, and the broader Topix index gained 1.3% to 1,392. And in China, the CSI 300 rose 0.5% to 3,128, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.8% to 2,938.

Brent spot was trading at $31.32 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $31.46. Spot gold was trading at $1,104 an ounce, silver was at $14.08 and platinum was at $836.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.4254 and against the euro at 1.3159. The dollar was trading at 0.9231 against the euro and 118.29 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, Kingfisher, owner of DIY chains B&Q and Screwfix, said it hopes to increase annual profits by £500m within five years. The plan, however, will cost £800m, and will hit profits next year by £50m, and the year after by £70m. It also plans to return £600m to shareholders over the next three years via share buybacks and dividend payments.