Hot/Cold Sectors
FX round-up: Sterling a ballot-box victim for second time in 12 months
The polls suggested a hung parliament was a real possibility and PM Theresa May's snap election made it a reality. The ballot box victim -- for a second time in a little less than 12 months -- was sterling, as widely expected.
London close: Blue chips higher after sterling flops on hung parliament
Blue-chip stocks campaigned to a higher close on Friday after PM Theresa May's Tories ended up with a humiliating hung parliament in their snap general election, causing sterling to flop on the dollar and euro.
Commodities: Copper storms ahead on China demand, supply disruptions
Copper stormed into the limelight on UK election Friday with both the spot and three-month prices for the industrial favourite bursting higher amid rising demand out of China and wider supply disruptions.
FX round-up: Sterling endures mixed election day amid market caution
Sterling had something of a mixed 'blockbuster' Thursday as the UK public turned out to vote in PM Theresa May's snap general election, which has seen caution blanket the market.
London close: FTSE 100 heads south as UK votes on 'blockbuster' Thursday
The FTSE 100 was weaker at the close as the UK voted in the snap election called by PM Theresa May, and traders worked their way through a full platter of US and European news on so-called 'blockbuster' Thursday.
London close: FTSE retreats ahead of 'blockbuster Thursday' as oil, utility stocks ebb
Stocks in London retreated to a lower close as falling oil, utility and pharmaceutical companies decided the outcome ahead of 'blockbuster Thursday' and the UK general election.
Commodities: Crude cliff dives on shock EIA stores build
Crude-oil futures cliff-dived lower on Wednesday afternoon as bears dumped the asset in wake of a shock build in US stockpiles, which added to existing concerns about Opec's output cut extension.
FX round-up: Sterling falls as investors head for safety ahead of UK election
Sterling had a tough time on most major crosses ahead of the UK general election on 'blockbuster' Thursday, with investors already heading for safe-haven assets, although it did gain markedly on South Africa's rand.
London close: FTSE drifts lower as investors sell risk for safety ahead of election
Equities in London drifted sideways and marginally lower for most of Tuesday as cautious investors sold risk in favour of safe-havens ahead of 'blockbuster' Thursday.
Sector movers: Defensives have the upper hand
Defensive issues paced gains as investors played it safe ahead of a raft of key risks events on Thursday, amid fresh geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and simmering concerns regarding the outlook for growth in the US and China.
London close: FTSE traipses lower as sterling gains on poll ahead of UK vote
London stocks traipsed lower on Monday as sterling gained, with Wall St following suit, as UK investors took a cautious tone ahead of the general election on Thursday and after the weekend's terror attack on the UK capital.
FX round-up: Sterling rises as election nears, poll noise ratchets up
Sterling was overall stronger on Monday as the UK general election nears and poll noise ratchets up on what the possible outcome of the ballot on Thursday might be.
Sector movers: Oil company stocks, banks lead gains
News that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrein severed diplomatic ties with Qatar at the weekend stoked gains in oil-related issues despite weakness in crude oil futures.
London close: Commodity losses, weak US May jobs report cap gains
After beginning on a chipper note, the FTSE 100 gradually lost its shine and slipped back towards its starting levels over the course of Friday trading, undermined by weak commodity prices and disappointing jobs data in the States, in that order.
Sector movers: Cyclicals lead, but defensives close behind
Shares of carmakers and lenders were pacing gains in the market even as beverages and personal goods nipped at their heels as some investors sought out safe havens ahead of the elections.