The FTSE 100 enjoyed a meteoric day on Thursday, rising close to a full one per cent to continue a year of extraordinary gains so far. London’s benchmark index was boosted by the likes of BT Group rising around 10 per cent, as optimism continued in the markets off the back of the UK agreeing a £6bn trade deal with India. Friday saw it fall a little but it remains well above 9,100 points.
Elsewhere, NS&I lifted the interest rate on their fixed one-year bonds and the European Central Bank opted to pause their march of interest rate cuts - particularly notable as the EU and US approach an agreement on a trade deal of their own which should see a 15 per cent tariff applied to imports from the European bloc, though not including steel.
