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The stock price is at London Tuesday’s penultimate day of the year ended higher, with gains in mining stocks bolstering the blue-chip index.
The FTSE 100 index closed up 74.18 points, or 0.8%, at 9,940.71 points.
The FTSE 250 index closed up 150.85 points, or 0.7%, at 22,558.36 points; Purpose The stock closed up 7.28 points, or 1.0%, at 766.86 points.
London markets will be closed early on Wednesday ahead of the New Year’s Day holiday on Thursday.
Markets reopened for a full trading day on Friday.
“The global nature of London’s top index denizens has helped it avoid the downturn that has hampered the more domestically focused FTSE 250 – although it has also experienced what is often referred to as the year-end phenomenon”Santa Claus rally today,” said Ajay Bell Analyst Danny Hewson.
“With the U.S. dollar under pressure and the world continuing to be gripped by geopolitical turmoil and AI bubble concerns, investors have been looking to the usual suspects of value and diversification.
“Signs that further U.S. interest rate cuts may be possible could allow Wall Street to find a higher gear, and the minutes from the Fed’s final meeting of the year should also illustrate that.”
In European stock markets on Tuesday, the Paris CAC 40 index closed up 0.7%.
Frankfurt’s DAX 40 index ended 0.6% higher after a shortened trading day.
Markets will remain closed on Wednesday, while Paris financial markets will have shortened trading hours on Wednesday ahead of the New Year’s holiday on Thursday.
Sterling was quoted at $1.3475 at the close in London on Tuesday, down from $1.3491 at the early London close on Monday.
The euro rose to $1.1762 from $1.1757.
The USD/JPY exchange rate rose from 156.04 yen to 156.25 yen.
New York stocks were lower.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1%.
The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note was at 4.12% on Tuesday, the same as on Monday.
The U.S. 30-year Treasury bond yield was steady at 4.80%.
U.S. home price growth remained weak in October, with annual gains near a two-year low, according to the latest S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Index, with prices falling in most major cities this month.
The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. national home price index rose 1.4% year-over-year in October, slightly higher than the 1.3% increase in September, but still one of the weakest annual readings since mid-2023.
From a month-on-month perspective, national prices fell by 0.2% without seasonal adjustment.
The latest Texas Services Outlook Survey released by the Dallas Federal Reserve showed no change in Texas service sector activity in December.
The revenue index, a key measure of the state of the country’s services sector, rose to 0.1 points in December from minus 2.5 in November, an increase of 2.6 points, according to business executives surveyed.
Labor market indicators showed employment conditions were stable, but hours worked fell this month.
The employment index fell 3.9 points to -0.8, while the part-time employment index fell 1.0 points to -0.8.
Both the employment and part-time employment indices are close to zero, indicating little change in employment or part-time employment.
The working hours index fell 1.7 points to minus 2.4.
Respondents believed broader business conditions continued to deteriorate in December, the report showed.
In London, Fresnillo shares rose 6.8%.
The stock hit a record high on Monday, supported by elevated gold and silver prices, but gave back those gains before the end of trading for the day.
Fresnillo’s shares have more than quintupled so far this year, making it one of the FTSE 100’s brightest stars.
Citigroup raised its price target on Fresnillo to 3,900 pence from 3,000 pence, with a “buy” rating.
Other miners are also rising, including Antofagasta rose 3.3%, with Anglo American and Glencore rising 2.4%.
Among other stocks, Caspian Sunrise shares rose 13% on AIM after the company noted “significant tax benefits” from the Kazakh government and reissued the company’s mining license.
The country’s energy ministry is said to have granted tax rebates “to assist the development of deep structures in the BNG contract area”.
The Caspian Sea will be temporarily exempted from export duties and crude oil duties.
The British company will not owe Kazakhstan historical costs, mineral extraction taxes and taxes on excess profits produced in the BNG region in which it owns 99%.
It will be replaced by an “alternative subsurface resource use tax.”
BNG is an onshore oil prospect containing the Airshagyl and Yelemes Deep formations.
To continue the tax rebate, the government has issued new assessment permits covering both structures, Caspian said.
Airshagyl’s license is valid for an initial three years; at Yelemes Deep it is two years.
Westminster Group shares fell 21%.
The security and technology services company, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, said it was in “advanced discussions” about a “significant investment” from a strategic investor with operations in Africa and the Middle East.
The unnamed company has also expressed interest in working with Westminster on commercial opportunities.
“The board anticipates that the regional expertise of potential investors will be of considerable benefit as opportunities within the region continue to develop,” Westminster said.
The company is also in the “final stages of negotiations for a significant offshore bank facility to finance the project”.
Jarvis Securities fell 20% after it reported a widening of full-year losses as it noted one of its units would be required to pay compensation to certain clients who breached the UK financial regulator’s code of conduct.
The operator of the retail stockbroking brand said pre-tax profits fell 43% to £3m in the 18 months to June 30 from £5.2m in 2023.
The company changed its fiscal year end date to June 30 from December 31.
This is despite revenue rising 37% in 18 months to £17.9m from £13.1m in 12 months to 2023.
An increase in administrative expenses dented profits, which jumped 66% to £17.9m from £13.1m.
Brent crude oil prices fell slightly to $61.44 a barrel at the close in London on Tuesday, down from $61.48 on Monday night.
Gold prices were steady at $4,366.20 an ounce at Tuesday’s close, compared with Monday’s close of $4,336.60 an ounce.
The biggest gainers on the FTSE 100 were Fresnillo, up 218p to 3,412p; Antofagasta, up 105p to 3,316p; Airtel Africa, up 11.2p to 355.4p; Glencore, up 10p to 406.5p; and Anglo American, up 71p. pence, to 3,056 pence.
The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Metlen Energy & Metals, down 0.3p to 44.25p; Experian, down 22p to 3,409p; Pershing Square, down 28p to 4,794p; Intertek, down 26p to 4,630p; and DCC, down 18p. pence, to 4,672 pence.
On Wednesday, investors will focus on U.S. initial jobless claims data on the final day of 2025.
There are no events scheduled on the UK corporate calendar for Wednesday.
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