Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksMarks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Share Price Information for Marks & Spencer (MKS)

London Stock Exchange
Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
Share Price: 258.30
Bid: 258.30
Ask: 258.50
Change: 3.70 (1.45%)
Spread: 0.20 (0.077%)
Open: 254.60
High: 259.20
Low: 254.60
Prev. Close: 254.60
MKS Live PriceLast checked at -

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: FTSE 100 leaps into June as mining stocks rally

Tue, 01st Jun 2021 17:04

(Alliance News) - London stocks jumped into June following a long weekend, the FTSE 100 climbing nearly 60 points on Tuesday as it got a boost from its sizeable mining contingent.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 57.85 points, or 0.8%, at 7,080.46. The FTSE 250 ended up 191.04 points, or 0.8%, at 22,874.99, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.67 points, or 0.2%, at 1,258.78.

The Cboe UK 100 ended 0.7% at 706.10, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.8% at 20,625.68, and the Cboe Small Companies ended 1.2% at 15,173.61.

In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.7%, while the DAX 30 in Frankfurt rallied 1.0%.

"US and UK investors have returned from their holiday in bullish form, picking up where they left off on Friday," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG.

He noted: "In the UK commodity prices have driven the gains for the FTSE 100, thanks to the strong showing in the US and Chinese manufacturing PMIs."

China's general manufacturing purchasing managers' index - a composite indicator designed to provide a single-figure snapshot of operating conditions in the manufacturing economy - inched up to 52.0 in May from 51.9 in April.

The figure rose further above the 50.0 threshold, which separates growth from decline - indicating China's manufacturing sector expansion strengthened in May.

London-listed miners rallied following the figures. Anglo American, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto all advanced 4.0%.

China was not the only country to record a robust May manufacturing PMI result on Tuesday. Activity in the UK manufacturing sector saw record growth in May as Covid-19 restrictions eased.

The UK manufacturing PMI rocketed to 65.6 points in May, up sharply from 60.9 in April. The latest reading was revised slightly lower from the preliminary reading of 66.1, but easily beat July 1994's previous record high of 61.0.

Markit said conditions in the UK manufacturing sector improved at an "unprecedented rate" in May, as output growth strengthened and new orders rose at the quickest pace in the near three-decade survey history.

There was also good news from the eurozone, which saw its own manufacturing PMI jump to 63.1 in May, compared to 62.9 in April - its highest reading in survey history, which has been running since June 1997.

And records were also made in the US, as the Markit PMI jumped to 62.1 points in May from 60.5 in April. May's reading beat the flash estimate of 61.5.

"US manufacturers are enjoying a bumper second quarter, with the PMI hitting a new high for the second month running in May," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.

Though May's headline PMI figure was strong, business confidence dipped to a seven-month low over supply issue concerns.

A separate release from the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday also revealed an improvement in US manufacturing activity in May.

The ISM PMI climbed to 61.2 in May from April's reading of 60.7. However, the ISM also noted supply shortages which, along with rising commodity prices and record-long lead times, are continuing to dent the manufacturing economy.

ING commented: "The US manufacturing sector continues to perform very strongly, but it is increasingly clear that supply constraints are holding back output and are pushing up prices."

Stocks in New York were mostly higher at the London equities close, but had trimmed early gains, with the Dow Jones was up 0.3%, the S&P 500 index up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.2%. Markets in New York were shut on Monday for Memorial Day.

Amid Tuesday's risk-on mood, the US dollar eased back.

The pound was quoted at USD1.4178 at the London equities close Tuesday, up compared to USD1.4175 at the close on Friday.

The euro stood at USD1.2248 at the European equities close Tuesday, rising from USD1.2185 at the same time on Friday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JPY109.40, down compared to JPY110.00 late Friday.

Precious metal gold also benefited from a softer dollar. Gold was quoted at USD1,899.75 an ounce at the London equities close Tuesday against USD1,895.00 at the close on Friday.

Meanwhile, Brent oil was trading above the USD71 mark for the first time since early March. The North Sea benchmark was quoted at USD71.11 a barrel at the London equities close Tuesday from USD69.77 late Friday.

London-listed oil majors jumped, with BP shares closing up 2.8% and Royal Dutch Shell 'A' and 'B' shares ending 2.2% and 1.8% higher respectively.

Elsewhere in London, FTSE 250-listed Marks & Spencer fell 3.4% after Morgan Stanley cut the food, clothing and homewares retailer to Equal Weight from Overweight.

M&C Saatchi jumped 12% after reporting stronger-than-expected trading for the first four months of 2021, leading the board to anticipate results for the year ahead of consensus expectations. The advertising agency highlighted its "robust" new business performance, with clients including the first digital UK Census campaign, Tinder and Australian energy firm Origin.

Amigo slumped 12% after the guarantor loans provider said it is considering all options, including insolvency, after deciding not to appeal the rejection by the UK High Court of its scheme to settle compensation claims.

It is also considering the possibility of promoting another scheme of arrangement to avoid insolvency.

"The issues and challenges facing Amigo are complex, and Amigo will continue to liaise in the coming weeks with its regulator the Financial Conduct Authority to seek to address its concerns as quickly as possible," Amigo said.

The UK corporate calendar for Wednesday has full-year results from central and eastern Europe-focused airline Wizz Air and publisher Bloomsbury Publishing.

The economic calendar on Wednesday has German retail sales at 0700 BST and EU producer prices at 1000 BST.

Also out on Wednesday, due after the London market close, will be the results of the latest quarterly UK index review. ITV is poised to return to the FTSE 100 and Renishaw is set for a demotion to the FTSE 250. The changes will be calculated based on Tuesday's closing prices.

ITV shares gained 2.4%, to give the broadcaster a market capitalisation of GBP5.26 billion, while Renishaw ended 0.3% lower, with a market value of GBP4.02 billion.

By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

More News
6 Sep 2023 09:32

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Shore says 'buy' B&M; Peel Hunt likes Halfords

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Wednesday morning:

Read more
6 Sep 2023 09:02

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks fall amid high oil prices

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened lower on Wednesday, as high oil prices gave rise to fears of renewed inflationary pressures and interest rate hikes.

Read more
31 Aug 2023 17:02

Miners drag FTSE 100 lower to snap 6-day winning streak

Glencore among top losers on FTSE 100

*

Read more
31 Aug 2023 16:50

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: FTSE 100 down amid stubborn US inflation

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London closed mixed on Thursday, after news that a key US inflation reading came in in line with market expectations.

Read more
31 Aug 2023 12:00

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: FTSE 100 edges lower ahead of US inflation print

(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 tipped into the red at midday on Thursday as investors nervously awaited the latest print of the US Federal Reserve's preferred inflationary gauge, the personal consumption expenditures index.

Read more
31 Aug 2023 07:49

LONDON BRIEFING: Stocks seen higher; Grafton begins another buyback

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday as market focus turns to inflation and whether it is cooling enough to justify a pause in September from the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve.

Read more
30 Aug 2023 17:55

TOP NEWS: M&S returns to FTSE 100 after four years, Persimmon exits

(Alliance News) - FTSE Russell confirmed on Wednesday that the following changes will take effect to its UK indices from the market open on Monday, September 18, after completing its quarterly review.

Read more
29 Aug 2023 17:00

Miners, homebuilders boost FTSE 100 to 2-weeks high

FTSE 100 hits 2-week high

*

Read more
29 Aug 2023 09:27

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: UBS cuts HSBC; Barclays cuts SDCL Energy

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Tuesday morning:

Read more
23 Aug 2023 10:24

Britain's Ocado Retail and Sainsbury's cut prices again

Ocado Retail cuts prices of 200 products

*

Read more
23 Aug 2023 08:54

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks rise ahead of Jackson Hole, Nvidia results

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened higher on Wednesday, as the mood in European markets continued to improve.

Read more
23 Aug 2023 07:09

Dechra, Hikma, M&S and Diploma set to join FTSE 100

MILAN, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Drugmakers Dechra and Hikma, along with retailer Marks & Spencer and technical products provider Diploma are set to join the UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 index in September, indicative changes announced by FTSE Russell show.

Read more
23 Aug 2023 00:01

Britain's Ocado Retail cuts prices again

Heinz beans, Quaker oats among price reductions

*

Read more
22 Aug 2023 17:26

TOP NEWS: M&S set to be FTSE 100 outfit again but Persimmon may fall

(Alliance News) - Marks & Spencer Group PLC is primed to make a return to London's premier FTSE 100 index, roughly three years after the founding member was booted out, with abrdn PLC once again among those making way.

Read more
22 Aug 2023 17:13

Cyclical stocks lift UK equities off six-week lows; Wood Group rises

Blue-chip FTSE 100 snaps seven-day losing streak

*

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.