FTSE Close: UK stocks close mixed as oil majors weigh
London shares closed mixed Monday, with gains capped by sliding oil stocks while Drax Group surged on a reported greenlight for a multibillion-pound carbon capture project.
The FTSE 100 barely budged, adding 4.58 points, or 0.1%, to finish at 7,694.19. The midcap FTSE 250 rose 183.41 points, or 1.0%, to 19,393.80 and the AIM All-Share dipped 0.42 point, or 0.1%, to 750.82.
Oil majors Shell and BP weighed on the UK blue chips, falling 3.2% and 2.6% respectively, as crude prices declined over 1%. Shell expects to book $2.5 billion to $4.5 billion in impairment charges for the fourth quarter, citing assets sales.
Legal & General climbed 2.8% after Berenberg upgraded the insurer’s stock to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’, citing macro tailwinds.
Drax Group was the top midcap gainer, vaulting 9.3%. The former coal power station is set to receive UK government approval for a £2 billion carbon capture plan, the Telegraph reported.
CMC Markets also jumped, rising 22% after the trading services firm lifted guidance and posted a “strong” fiscal third quarter aided by institutional business.
Plus500 added 7.5% as the online trading platform predicted full-year revenue and earnings will beat expectations following high market volatility.
Investor attention now turns to key US inflation data due later this week, which could influence rate hike bets.
