Britain's leading share index ended 1.1 percent higher on Tuesday after data showed US consumer confidence rose, with energy stocks, cigarette makers and food retailers leading the gainers. The FTSE 100 closed 46.43 points higher at 4,411.72, reversing earlier losses after the US data and shrugging off concerns of heightening geopolitical tension on the Korean peninsula.
Volumes on the FTSE 100 were at some 70 percent of the index's 90-day average daily volume. The bourse was closed Monday for a bank holiday. The UK benchmark is down 0.5 percent this year, but has rallied 27.5 percent since hitting a six-year trough on March 9.Energy stocks added most points to the UK index, with BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Tullow Oil rising between 0.9 percent and 1.2 percent.
"The real test is whether we can breach 4,500 and then go on higher. If not, we will probably remain in this consolidation, range-bound trading," said Angus Campbell, head of sales at Capital Spreads, adding that a strong supporting level at 4,300. "Today we have very encouraging news from the US which has a knock on effect here in London," Campbell said.
Tobacco stocks British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco advanced 3.9 and 2.7 percent, respectively, while food retailers Tesco, Morrison Supermarkets and Sainsbury rose between 1.8 percent and 3.5 percent. In the banking sector, Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered put on 0.7 percent to 1.7 percent, paring earlier losses. However, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group stayed in negative territory.
Miners were also generally firmer, with Eurasian Natural Resources, Fresnillo, Lonmin, BHP Billiton and Xstrata up 0.9 percent to 6.8 percent. Rio Tinto eased 0.6 percent. The miner has agreed to cut key iron ore prices to Japanese steelmakers by a third in this year's first contract, setting a benchmark analysts say China will almost certainly reject after six years of surging prices.
Separately, Aluminium Corp of China (Chinalco) is discussing possible adjustments to its investment deal with Rio in line with changes to market conditions, its President Xiong Weiping told China's Caijing magazine.
Among individual movers, Rexam, the world's largest beverage can maker, rose 3.4 percent after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral" and added it to its "conviction buy" list. Shares in Wood Group rose 5.9 percent as traders noted vague speculative interest in the mid cap oil services group, with FT Alphaville suggesting that blue chip peer Amec could be eyeing a bid for the firm.
A spokesperson for Wood Group said there was no particular reason for the share price rise, with no statement planned from the company. Amec, which was not immediately available to comment, added 3.2 percent. In the oil services sector, Petrofac gained 2.5 percent. Thomas Cook shed 4.3 percent. Its debt-laden parent Arcandor said talks with rival Metro about a tie-up of their department store chains were still on, pouring cold water on speculation it had walked away from a possible deal.
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