The FTSE has extended early gains after figures showed inflation eased in July, with financials and mining stocks leading the charge into positive territory.
Shortly after midday, London's blue-chip index was up nearly a percentage point to 5,324. Insurers are performing strongly on the back of consolidation vehicle Resolution posting a £203m first half profit. Aviva - which recently rejected a bid from RSA for its general insurance operations - is up over 3% and Prudential is also edging near 3% gains. Mining stocks are among the day's top performers following broker predictions of stronger demand from China and strong metal prices. Kazakhmys and Eurasian Natural Resources both rose around 3%. The sector has also been buoyed by the ann...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes