FTSE round up: Unilever boosts index as Easyjet sinks
The FTSE 100 closed up 0.8 per cent for the week on after climbing to 7,051.41 today on the back of strong performances from consumer goods companies Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever.
Unilever’s shares were up 3.11 per cent, reversing yesterday’s losses which followed it delivering a solid, but slightly underwhelming set of third quarter results.
Read more: Unilever reports underlying growth as it stays in London
Reckitt Benckiser was the highest climber moving up 3.76 per cent to 6,714p.
The pair’s rise was partially inspired by a strong update from US consumer goods firm Proctor and Gamble which announced its best numbers in five years.
Pharma giant Glaxosmithkline was the second-highest riser, with a 3.11 per cent bump to 1,557p.
Budget airline Easyjet was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 with its shares falling 6.32 per cent to 1,068p on the back of a downgrade from Mainfirst, and steel company Evraz was the second-biggest faller, losing 5.32 per cent of its value.
Read more: Procter & Gamble shares spike in surprise profits boost
FTSE 250 real estate investment trust Intu was the biggest riser on the main market after news broker that it was mulling a take-private offer from a UK-Saudi consortium including British billionaire John Whittakar, Saudi investment group Olayan, and Brookfield Property Group.
Shares jumped 12.55 per cent to 200p.