Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

FTSE 100 dips after Sensex and other Asian stock markets fall sharply

Chinese stocks fall on Tuesday while Japan’s Nikkei records moderate gains

Stuti Mishra
Tuesday 27 July 2021 03:44 EDT
Comments
FTSE follows Asian markets lower
FTSE follows Asian markets lower (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.8 per cent shortly after opening on Tuesday after finishing the previous session flat.

The blue-chip index had declined heavily in the early trading hours on Monday, dragged by energy stocks, while mining stocks helped cap losses as worries of Covid-19 infections subsided.

However, worries resurfaced as UK markets began trading on Tuesday, sending the FTSE down 1 per cent to 6,953.39.

Flutter Entertainment Group, which owns Paddy Power Betfair was among the biggest gainers with a 1.5 per cent rise. Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser was the biggest faller, dropping 9 per cent after swinging to a $1.9bn loss in the first half of the year.

Rio Tinto was the second-biggest loser, falling 2.3 per cent, after it said that it planned to cut production at its aluminium smelter in Canada because of strikes by workers.

The domestically focused FTSE 250 fell 0.9 per cent to 22,728 in early trading on Tuesday.

European stocks fell into the red with the Stoxx 600, falling 0.7 per cent to 458.06. Germany’s DAX was down 0.8 per cent and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.5 per cent.

Across the pond, US indices hit record highs with S&P 500 advancing gains ahead of a busy week of earnings reports from technology’s heaviest hitters. The broad equity benchmark rose 0.2 per cent to a fresh record close of 4,422, extending its winning streak to five days.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2 per cent, on Monday, lifting it to an all-time high of 35,144.31, also rising for a fifth straight day. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed slightly higher at 14,840, hitting a new high but closing a little shy of 15,000 mark it was expected to hit soon.

On Tuesday, shares in Asia-Pacific continued to trade mixed with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index falling sharply along with volatility in mainland Chinese markets following Beijing’s sweeping regulatory overhaul.

The Hang Seng fell 5 per cent to 24,891 while the Shanghai Composite traded 2.5 per cent down at 3,381. Japan’s Nikkei, however, registered modest gains of 0.5 per cent, ending Tuesday’s session at 27,970.

Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty initially rose on Tuesday led by metal and banking stocks. However, the gains were quickly erased, with the Sensex closing down 0.6 per cent at 52,538. The Nifty50 index was also down 0.6 per cent at 15,726.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in