FTSE 100 movers: Ashtead gains on US tax reform bill; Fresnillo loses its shine

London's FTSE 100 was up 0.4% to 7,325.86 in afternoon trade on Monday as investors grew hopeful of a Brexit breakthrough and cheered the passing of the US tax reform bill.

Cruise operator Carnival, equipment rental firm Ashtead and building materials group CRH, which generate a large chunk of their revenues from the US, were higher after the passing of the US tax reform bill.

Broadcaster Sky was a high riser amid news that 21st Century Fox has restarted talks over a possible sale to Walt Disney.

RBS was up, recovering from losses at the end of last week when it announced the closure of 259 of its branches.

On the downside, precious metals miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources lost their shine as gold and silver prices fell. Randgold fell despite an upgrade to 'sector perform' from 'underperform' by RBC Capital Markets, which said the stock's valuation looks more attractive after a pullback.

Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser took a hit after AlphaValue downgraded its stance on the stock to 'add'.

Risers

Carnival (CCL) 4,897.00p 2.79%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,957.00p 2.78%
Sky (SKY) 955.50p 2.74%
Barclays (BARC) 194.30p 2.59%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,943.50p 2.56%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,387.00p 2.29%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 276.00p 2.18%
CRH (CRH) 2,599.00p 2.04%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 938.50p 2.01%
British Land Company (BLND) 640.00p 1.67%

Fallers

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,275.00p -2.52%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 678.00p -1.74%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,785.00p -1.45%
Next (NXT) 4,387.00p -1.02%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,730.00p -0.57%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 213.30p -0.56%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 6,346.00p -0.50%
G4S (GFS) 249.90p -0.48%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,764.50p -0.42%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 803.50p -0.37%