What happened yesterday?
Equity markets continued their run after perceived progress on phase one of the trade deal between China and the United States.
In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.50% higher at 26,156.10, while the S&P too was 0.43% stronger at 3,131.29 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.74% firmer at 10,131.37.
In Europe, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was up by 1.3% at 367.4, alongside a 2.13% advance for Germany’s exporter-heavy Dax to 12,523.76 while the FTSE Mibtel added 1.86% to 19,841.58.
In the UK, strong Purchasing Managers Index data announced yesterday boosted the FTSE’s run further. The FTSE 100 ended the session up 1.21% at 6,320.12, and the FTSE 250 was 0.45% firmer at 17,652.80.
On company announcements:
RBS said it will give business customers an additional six months to capitalise on incentives to change their accounts to other banks – a legacy requirement of its bailout during the financial crisis. Fewer businesses have taken advantage of the opportunity to switch during the ongoing pandemic.
Checkout.com raised new funding, led by Coatue Management, tripling its valuation to $5.5 billion, making it one of the UK’s most highly valued private tech firms. The FT suggested the payments start-up’s “rapid rise illustrates the growth in digital payments as companies process more sales online during the COVID-19 crisis”.