Economics / Markets

The natural resources sector boosted the FTSE this morning. The exchange opened at 6231.3p after rising 16.1 points, or 0.26%.

LIONTRUST believes the recent spate of interest rate hikes and rising inflation represents a return to more normal conditions after more than a decade of the so called ‘Goldilocks economy'.

Despite the chance of a rebound earlier in the day, the FTSE closed down at the end of a difficult week for global markets.

Falls by Friends Provident, Cadburys Schweppes and Antofagasta forced the FTSE lower for the fourth day running.

ATLANTIS Investment Management believes that the Japanese stock market will rise on the back of increased domestic investor confidence, despite the economy continuing to under perform this year.

A strong start on the FTSE sent out the wrong message as the index tumbled 187.9 points, nearly 3%, to finish on 6266.4 on Thursday.

A strong start on the FTSE 100 has seen the index jump 8.3 points, or 0.13%, to 6462.6.

GLOBAL economic growth is set to hit 5.2pc this year and next, according to the July update of the IMF's World Economic Outlook.

A good mid-afternoon for the FTSE 100 was to no avail, as the index dipped in late trading to close down 44.4 points, or 0.68%, to 6454.3.

The FTSE 100 has hit back this morning, despite an overnight hammering of Wall Street stocks, currently down just 0.80 points, or 0.01%, to 6497.90.