Get 40% Off
👀 👁 🧿 All eyes on Biogen, up +4,56% after posting earnings. Our AI picked it in March 2024.
Which stocks will surge next?
Unlock AI-picked Stocks

FTSE led higher by banks after Greek debt deal done

Published 13/07/2015, 17:18
Updated 13/07/2015, 17:18
© Reuters. A man walks past the London Stock Exchange in the City of London

By Liisa Tuhkanen

LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 hit a two-week high on Monday, with banks among the best performers, after euro zone leaders agreed on a road map to a third bailout for near-bankrupt Greece.

The FTSE 100 index (FTSE) closed 1 percent up at 6,737.95 points, with advances in banks - highly geared to market declines - adding the most points to the index.

"I was 'long' on the market last week, betting that a Greek deal would be reached, and the agreement on Greece has had a natural, positive kick-on effect for the banks," Central Markets trading analyst Joe Neighbour said.

Shawbrook (L:SHAW) and HSBC (L:HSBA) rose the most among banks, gaining 4.6 and 2.1 percent respectively.

News of a deal with creditors was met with a measure of relief mixed with much anger in Greece, after it became clear the country will have to swallow more austerity in what some see as Berlin's attempts to humiliate Athens as a punishment for its resistance to another round of cuts.

"It's generally seen by the markets at the moment as a done deal, but clearly there will be some sort of political wranglings about this both domestically for [Greek Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras and his party and within the euro zone region as well," said London Capital Group analyst Brenda Kelly.

British Airways' owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) (L:ICAG) was the biggest gainer of the day in percentage terms, rising 3.4 percent after UBS upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral".

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Supermarkets Morrison (L:MRW), Tesco (L:TSCO), Marks and Spencer (L:MKS) and Sainsbury (L:SBRY) also rose, adding between 3 and 1.7 percent.

"It is very much a relief rally, with a huge bend towards the defensive, and that is a lot of the reason why supermarkets are benefiting today," Kelly said.

Among mid caps, speciality chemical maker Alent (L:ALNT) soared 44.2 percent to a record high after a bid from U.S. peer Platform Specialty (N:PAH), pushing the FTSE 350 Chemicals Index (FTNMX1350) 3.2 percent higher.

On the downside, International Personal Finance (L:IPF) plummeted 25.2 percent on proposed revisions to a credit amendment law in Poland, one of its biggest markets.

The FTSE 100 is up by 2.6 percent since the start of 2015, although the index is down over 5 percent from a record high of 7,122.74 points reached in April.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.