London midday: Markets quiet ahead of Christmas but stocks extend gains

UK stocks were set to hit a two-week high on Monday as the ‘Santa Rally’ continued into its fifth straight day, with energy shares providing a boost on a continued rebound in crude prices.

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 6,597 by around midday. It has not closed above this mark since 8 December.

“In mid-morning trading the FTSE 100 is […] higher, as the pre-Christmas rally continues on its merry way,” said analyst Chris Beauchamp from IG.

“The City is quietening down rapidly, while the corporate and economic calendars are emptying too. Yet there are still buyers active, as the year-end window dressing pushes major indices higher," he said.

The FTSE 100 surged 4% last week, rising nearly 6% over the past four sessions alone. This was the Footsie’s best weekly performance since December 2011 after the Federal Reserve promised to be “patient” about the first rate rise and markets rebounded strongly after a recent sell-off.

UK equity markets are open as normal until Wednesday when they close half a day early for Christmas Eve. They will not open again until Monday 29th December.

Economic data was thin on the ground on Monday, though figures from Haart showed that London house prices fell below £500,000 on average in November. The survey revealed that London house prices fell overall by 1.9% with prices in some of the wealthier south-western districts in the capital plunging by 14%, further evidence that 2014’s property boom is cooling.

Energy stocks trade oil higher

Oil producers such as Shell, BP, Ophir Energy, Nostrum Oil & Gas and Afren were making decent gains on Monday. Brent crude for February delivery was up 0.5% at $61.66 a barrel, as it continues to rebound after dropping below the $60 mark last week for the first time since mid-2009.

Mining stocks were however limiting upside on stock markets with precious metal miners Randgold and Fresnillo among the worst performers. Anglo American and Antofagasta also fell.

Home improvement retailer Kingfisher edged higher after agreeing to sell a controlling 70% stake in its B&Q China business to Wumei Holdings for £140m.

Kier Group was in demand after its joint venture with Clancy Docwra was named as the preferred bidder for a £1bn Thames Water infrastructure project. The contract, which an estimated value to the KCD joint venture of £500m over the next five years, will run for up to 15 years.

Market Movers
techMARK 2,953.64 +0.57%
FTSE 100 6,597.02 +0.79%
FTSE 250 15,940.25 +0.32%

FTSE 100 - Risers
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,343.00p +2.60%
Kingfisher (KGF) 331.70p +2.31%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 468.40p +2.03%
WPP (WPP) 1,352.00p +1.81%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,411.00p +1.79%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 943.10p +1.74%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,108.00p +1.74%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,260.50p +1.71%
Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,903.00p +1.61%
Compass Group (CPG) 1,103.00p +1.57%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,286.00p -3.27%
Fresnillo (FRES) 726.00p -1.76%
TUI AG Reg Shs (Post- 16/12/14)(DI) (TUIJ) 1,055.00p -1.68%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 418.50p -1.34%
Weir Group (WEIR) 1,880.00p -1.31%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 737.50p -0.94%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,183.00p -0.84%
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 446.20p -0.76%
Tesco (TSCO) 184.00p -0.76%
Aviva (AV.) 493.00p -0.40%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Evraz (EVR) 139.80p +7.46%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 446.60p +6.33%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 201.20p +4.96%
Afren (AFR) 49.55p +4.16%
Polymetal International (POLY) 571.50p +3.91%
Hunting (HTG) 545.50p +3.31%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 140.50p +3.08%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,945.00p +2.96%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 391.40p +2.59%
Regus (RGU) 204.90p +2.55%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 200.90p -5.15%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 55.35p -4.90%
IP Group (IPO) 217.30p -4.65%
Synthomer (SYNT) 223.30p -4.65%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 203.90p -2.95%
Soco International (SIA) 300.00p -2.82%
Renishaw (RSW) 1,960.00p -2.68%
Homeserve (HSV) 325.00p -2.14%
Allied Minds (ALM) 336.00p -2.11%
RPC Group (RPC) 524.00p -2.06%