Europe: Banks, commodities lift UK’s FTSE 100

BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 rose on Monday, supported by banks and commodity stocks in a choppy session, with data showing Britain’s industrial output slowed but tentative signs of price pressures coming off their peak.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed 0.4 per cent, reversing early losses, while the domestically focussed mid-cap index slipped 0.1 per cent.

Banks, which benefit from higher interest rates, advanced 2.0 per cent and were among the top performers on the blue-chip FTSE 100 ahead of their results and an expected US rate hike this week.

Miners rose 2.1 per cent, tracking higher copper prices helped by a weakening dollar that made metals cheaper for buyers with other currencies.

Oil stocks BP and Shell rebounded from early losses and gained 0.9 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively, boosted by dollar weakness and concerns around supply.

Energy has been the top performing sector so far this year, up nearly 23 per cent year-to-date, helping the FTSE 100 outperform US and European peers.

Volatile oil prices, however, have unsettled the index this month, with traders weighing the impact of likely interest rate hikes that could cut demand against tight supply due to the loss of Russian oil.

“The FTSE has been more resilient because of its number of big international companies, particularly the big oil and gas companies and the miners which have really made hay,” said AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson. “But going forward you really can’t guarantee that is going to be sustained.”

Meanwhile, data showed British industrial output grew at the slowest pace in over a year in the three months to July, but there were tentative signs that some challenges around inflation and investment are easing.

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SThree rose 1.7 per cent after posting a 58% surge in its half-year operating profit, supported by strong hiring demand and as people change jobs in a competitive market.

Serica Energy advanced 5.0 per cent after it rejected a revised merger proposal from energy investment firm Kistos , which valued the British oil and gas group at nearly £1.2 billion (S$1.94 billion). Kistos fell 1.4 per cent. REUTERS