FTSE 100 shrugs off real estate stocks boost

London markets were a mixed bag during opening exchanges today despite a rally among real estate stocks providing bright spots on the FTSE 100.

The capital’s premier index fell 0.19 per cent to 7,276.99 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 climbed 0.22 per cent to 23,487.07 per cent.

A rally among real estate stocks was not enough to lift the FTSE 100 into positive territory.

The likes of Barratt Developments, Land Securities and Persimmon climbed more than two per cent.

Gains on the blue-chip index were tempered by pharma giant GSK dropping more than 2.60 per cent despite announcing yesterday it had won a $1bn contract to supply Covid-19 antibody treatment in the US.

Oil mega cap Royal Dutch Shell’s two tranches of shares also dipped, weighing the FTSE 100 down.

Meanwhile, a good start to the day for City press favourite and digital broker CMC Markets, rising 2.26 per cent, lifted the mid-cap FTSE 250 index.

Wagamama owner the Restaurant Group advanced 1.81 per cent.

The pound continued its rally against the greenback, strengthening 0.17 per cent to buy $1.3505.