Rainbow Rare Earths Phalaborwa project shaping up to be one of the lowest cost producers globally. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

FTSE 100 closes lower at the end of best week in three months

Fri, 14th Jul 2023 17:28

Spirax-Sarco gains on UBS upgrade

*

Liontrust dips on falling AUMA

*

UK CPI due next week

*

FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 off 0.4%

July 14 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 edged lower on Friday as a drop in oil stocks outweighed gains in industrials, while the index logged weekly gains on optimism about interest rates peaking in the U.S.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 slipped by 0.1%, dragged by oil stocks falling 1.7%, tracking lower crude prices.

Capping losses, Spirax-Sarco Engineering added 3.1% after UBS upgraded the valve maker's rating to "buy" from "neutral".

Despite the session' losses, the FTSE 100 logged its best weekly performance in more than three months, while the midcap index posted its best week in eight months.

Global markets have rallied this week as evidence of slowing inflation in the United States bolstered hopes that the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its rate-hike cycle.

"Investors are trying to see through the malaise and looking six to nine months into the future when they hope things will be better," said Michael Field, senior equity analyst at Morningstar.

Markets await the UK June consumer prices data due next week, to look for clues on where the Bank of England (BoE) stands on monetary policy tightening.

"General trend amongst the developed economies now is that CPI is falling relatively quickly and the UK has been stickier," Field added, with the implication the UK will need longer to bring inflation down.

Meanwhile, the head of Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said inflationary pressures are becoming more embedded in the economy.

The domestically-focussed FTSE 250 midcap index fell 0.4%, led by a 9.7% drop in Liontrust Asset Management as the company reported a fall in its assets under management and advice(AUMA).

Dr Martens added 5.1% after the bootmaker announced the start of a share buyback program of up to 50 million pounds ($65.52 million). (Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Janane Venkatraman and Barbara Lewis)

Related Shares

More News
5 Jun 2024 16:14

IN BRIEF: Spirax-Sarco confirms name change to Spirax Group

Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC - Cheltenham-based manufacturer of pumps and steam management systems - Confirms name change to Spirax Group PLC. The reb...

29 May 2024 10:01

IN BRIEF: Spirax names TI Fluid's Cobbold chair following Pike's exit

Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC - Cheltenham-based manufacturer of pumps and steam management systems - Jamie Pike will retire from the board on December...

17 May 2024 15:43

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

15 May 2024 15:00

London close: Stocks green as US inflation comes in cooler

(Sharecast News) - London markets ended on a positive note on Wednesday, with strong showings from the likes of Experian and Imperial Brands, as inves...

15 May 2024 11:06

IN BRIEF: Weir appoints former Spirax-Sarco CEO Anderson to board

Weir Group PLC - Glasgow-based engineering company - Says Nick Anderson has been appointed to the company's board as an independent non-executive dire...

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.