Friday,09 February 2024 08:22:23

Market Report by Email

If you would like to receive the daily Market Report by email please fill out your name and email address in the sign-up form below and you will be added to our mailing list.

Friday,09 February 2024 at 08:22

UK & European stocks rose at the open on Friday after the S&P 500 hit 5,000 for the first time on Wall Street.

Japan’s Nikkei hit fresh 34-year highs, while most Asia-Pacific markets were either fully or partially closed for Lunar New Year holidays.

Gold prices were flat in light trading with Chinese markets closed for the Lunar New Year break, while a firm dollar offset safe-haven demand fueled by Middle East concerns.

Oil prices rose in early trade, on track for weekly gains, with tensions persisting in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas.

In UK corporate news, supermarket giant Tesco has sold its retail banking business to Barclays for £600m, the two companies said.

The duo also unveiled a 10-year partnership to market and distribute credit cards, unsecured personal loans and deposits using the Tesco brand, as well as explore other opportunities to offer financial services to Tesco customers.

Tesco said it expected to rake in a further £100m after the settlement of certain regulatory capital amounts and transaction costs. Combined with the previously announced special dividend of £250m paid by Tesco Bank last August, this is expected to result in total cash received of around £1bn, the majority of which will be returned to shareholders in the form of an incremental share buyback.

Markets

08:15

FTSE 100 7,599 +0.05%

FTSE 250 19,103 +0.00%

DAX 16,975 +0.07%

the close

Dow Jones 38,726 +0.13%

S&P 500 4,997 +0.06%

NASDAQ 15,793 +0.24%

Fixed Income

UK 10-YR YIELD 4.096

Exchange Rates

GBP/USD 1.262

GBP/EUR 1.171

Commodities

Gold $2,030.82 (-0.15%)

Brent $81.55 (-0.21%)

Important - No news or research item should be construed as a recommendation to trade. The inclusion of securities within this report does not necessarily imply their suitability for individual portfolios or situations in respect of which further advice should be sought. Information contained in this report has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable but is not warranted to be accurate or complete.