Investment accounts
Adult accounts
Child accounts
Choosing Fidelity
Choosing Fidelity
Why invest with us Current offers Fees and charges Open an account Transfer investments
Financial advice & support
Fidelity’s Services
Fidelity’s Services
Financial advice Retirement Wealth Management Investor Centre (London) Bereavement
Guidance and tools
Guidance and tools
Choosing investments Choosing accounts ISA calculator Retirement calculators
Shares
Share dealing
Choose your shares
Tools and information
Tools and information
Share prices and markets Chart and compare shares Stock market news Shareholder perks
Pensions & retirement
Pensions, tax & tools
Saving for retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Speak to a specialist Creating a retirement plan Taking tax-free cash Pension drawdown Annuities Investing in retirement Investment Pathways
Sector movers: Aerospace and Defence, Pharma pace gains
(Sharecast News) - London's main stock market gauges continued to push higher in the middle of the week, even as investors waited on the Bank of England's policy announcement on the following day. Against that backdrop, the FTSE 100 ended the session ahead by 0.49% to 8,354.05, while the second-tier index was up 0.39% at 20,491.99.
Brent crude oil futures and benchmark 10-year Gilt yields were a tad higher and cable a bit lower.
No one was expecting the Monetary Policy Committee to announce any changes at Thursday's meeting, but a rate cut in August, if not perhaps even in June, appeared increasingly likely.
That said, at least at present,, money markets were pricing in just two cuts for over the remainder of 2024.
Aerospace and Defence, together with Pharma, were among the strongest segments of the FTSE 350 throughout much of the day, buoyed in part by strength in the likes of AstraZeneca and BAE Systems whose shares hit fresh record highs.
Industrial miners were the main drag on profit-taking in copper prices.
Analysts at SP Angel cited news of Indonesia's decision to extend Freeport's export permit and U.S. dollar strength as the main reasons for the move in copper.
Top performing sectors so far today
Beverages 22,494.02 +1.81%
Non-life Insurance 3,672.37 +1.70%
Aerospace and Defence 11,048.73 +1.48%
Industrial Engineering 14,053.01 +1.30%
Leisure Goods 24,837.58 +1.22%
Bottom performing sectors so far today
Industrial Metals & Mining 7,050.66 -1.16%
Automobiles & Parts 1,177.43 -1.09%
Investment Banking and Brokerage Services 14,497.60 -1.00%
Telecommunications Service Providers 1,811.94 -0.50%
Personal Goods 15,999.73 -0.26%
Share this article
Related Sharecast Articles
Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Award-winning online share dealing
Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.
Expert insights into investing your money
Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.
Policies and important information
Accessibility | Conflicts of interest statement | Consumer Duty Target Market | Consumer Duty Value Assessment Statement | Cookie policy | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Doing Business with Fidelity | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reports | Investing in Fidelity funds | Legal information | Modern slavery | Mutual respect policy | Privacy statement | Remuneration policy | Staying secure | Statutory and Regulatory disclosures | Whistleblowing programme
Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance, the performance of investments is not guaranteed, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. When investments have particular tax features, these will depend on your personal circumstances and tax rules may change in the future. This website does not contain any personal recommendations for a particular course of action, service or product. You should regularly review your investment objectives and choices and, if you are unsure whether an investment is suitable for you, you should contact an authorised financial adviser. Before opening an account, please read the ‘Doing Business with Fidelity’ document which incorporates our client terms. Prior to investing into a fund, please read the relevant key information document which contains important information about the fund.
This website is issued by Financial Administration Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (FCA Register number 122169) and registered in England and Wales under company number 1629709 whose registered address is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 6RP.
