FTSE 100 set to record weekly gains on earnings, vaccine optimism

Reuters · 02/05/2021 08:18
FTSE 100 set to record weekly gains on earnings, vaccine optimism

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FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%

Feb 5 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 was set to record a weekly gain of 1% on Friday, after falling for three consecutive weeks, as corporate earnings improved and faster vaccine rollouts supported optimism around a quicker pace of economic revival.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE dipped 0.1% on Friday but was on pace to gain 1.06% for the week with banks .FTNMX8350 and travel .FTNMX5750 stocks being the top gainers. The mid-cap index .FTMC gained rose 0.2%.

The Bank of England gave British lenders at least six months' breathing space on Thursday before negative interest rates are a possibility, focusing instead on the prospects of a post-lockdown rebound.nL1N2KA0T6

Progress in vaccine distribution and expectations of a large stimulus by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration helped global markets trade near their record highs. MKTS/GLOB

Insurer Beazley BEZG.L jumped 7.2% and was the top gainer on the mid-cap index after it said it was confident of returning to profitability in 2021.nL8N2KB1M4







(Reporting by Shashank Nayar and Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel)

((Shashank.Nayar@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2256;))

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