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FTSE 100 closes at new record high | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The London stock market closed at a record high, as the pound fell against the dollar and the euro. | |
The benchmark FTSE 100 index jumped 1.59% to 7,382.9 points. | |
US shares also hit record highs, with the Dow Jones Index pushing through the 21,000 level for the first time. | |
Some traders attributed the rise to Donald Trump's speech to Congress overnight, while others said it was to do with growing expectations of a US rate rise. | |
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.44% against the US dollar at $1.2326 and shed 0.36% against the euro to 1.16664. | |
Mr Trump pledged $1trn in infrastructure spending and "massive" tax cuts for the middle classes. | |
However, he did not detail how any of it would be paid for. | However, he did not detail how any of it would be paid for. |
Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said it was a "bit of a disappointment in the sense that he did not put any more meat on the bones" of past promises. | Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said it was a "bit of a disappointment in the sense that he did not put any more meat on the bones" of past promises. |
Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, said the rise in the FTSE was mainly to do with currency market moves. | |
"The weakened pound is what has been helping the FTSE 100 Index higher," he said. | |
"The US dollar is also strengthening because there is every chance that there is going to be a rate hike from the US Federal Reserve on March 15," he added. | |
Rental equipment firm Ashtead Group was the biggest riser on the FTSE, up 5.7%, while retailer Next added 4.6% following a broker upgrade. | |
The broadcaster ITV added 4.5% after announcing a £200m special dividend with its annual results. | |
On the FTSE 250, outsourcing firm Mitie Group added 3.6% after selling its troubled social care businesses for a nominal £2 to private equity firm Apposite Capital. |