FTSE 100 closes flat after reaching 7,000, Sensex opens 400 points lower
US stocks ended broadly higher after a series of corporate earnings from companies like Amazon
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 traded higher throughout the session on Thursday buoyed by positive company earnings but fell slightly at the end of the trading session, dragged down by tobacco companies that took a hit after US regulators proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes.
The blue-chip index closed flat but in the red at 6961, down just two points after trading above 7,000 for most of the session. Meanwhile, the domestically focused FTSE 250 ended flat at 22,393, down by 46 points.
After positive earnings, shares of Standard Chartered Bank, Smith and Nephew and Unilever were the top gainers on the FTSE 100, while the two of the world’s largest tobacco companies, British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands, fell sharply making it to one of the biggest losers.
The US stocks ended broadly higher after a series of corporate earnings from companies like Amazon and positive data amid hopes of economic recovery.
The S&P 500 pushed higher to another record high, up 0.7 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose 0.7 per cent each.
The Nasdaq Composite closed 0.2 per cent higher, ending a losing streak of two days.
However, on Thursday Asian markets had a mixed opening with major indexes trading in the red around noon.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 is 0.46 points lower amid Japan’s Golden Week holiday, while stocks in mainland China dragged after the government’s escalation of a crackdown on the nation’s technology giants to rein in financial risks. A government report today also showed Chinese manufacturing slowed more than expected this month.
The Hang Seng index also fell lower by 1.53 per cent and Kospi was down 0.55 per cent.
The Indian market opened lower on Friday amid mixed global cues with Sensex 0.81 per cent or 404 points down and Nifty down 1 per cent.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments