FTSE 100 closes within a whisker of 7,000 as sterling pares some of its losses
The FTSE 100 finished the week marginally higher – and within a whisker of the 7,000 mark.
After a day of volatility, the UK's blue-chip index closed up 0.14 per cent, at 6,996 points, buoyed by a strong US GDP figure.
It was pushed up by International Airlines Group, the British Airways owner, whose shares rose six per cent to 438.45p after it hiked its interim dividend payment by 10 per cent in third-quarter results today.
Housebuilders also had a good day, with Barratt rising 3.8 per cent to 455.5p (a relief after its London boss was arrested last week), while Taylor Wimpey rose 2.9 per cent to 142.9p and Persimmon rose 2.6 per cent to 1,715p.
Pharma giants were among the biggest fallers, with Shire falling 3.4 per cent to 4,781p and Hikma dropping 1.8 per cent to 1,780p.
Meanwhile, the pound pared some of its losses after it dived following the decision by the Northern Irish High Court to dismiss a legal challenge against Brexit.
Investors had hoped a legal challenge would lead to a delayed Brexit – so when Mr Justice Maguire dismissed two judicial review challenges, sterling briefly dipped to below €1.11, and fell as low as $1.2116.
However, by market close it had regained much of those losses, rising to $1.2152, just 0.1 per cent down against the dollar, and €1.1116, 0.4 per cent down against the euro.
"Yet another day of high volatility for the FTSE has seen the UK benchmark flicker between positive and negative on a number of occasions," said analysts at IG.
"With today’s US GDP reading comes a significant jump in Fed rate expectations. Markets now place the chance of a December US rate hike at around 75 per cent, with the one major hurdle coming in the form of next month’s election. With markets increasingly expecting a Clinton victory, today’s data should provide enough impetus to force the Fed’s hand.