FTSE enjoys three-year high
Progress by drugs giant AstraZeneca helped the FTSE 100 Index end one of the busiest weeks in the corporate calendar in upbeat form today.
Astra added 3% to its market value – up 78p to 2558p – after rising nearly 6% in the wake of yesterday’s interim results, making it today’s second highest top flight climber.
After breaking through the key 5300 barrier earlier in the session, the Footsie closed 12 points higher at 5282.3 – its best finish in more than three years.
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell was a main driver of the progress as the price of a barrel of US light crude lifted 89c to $60.83 in New York.
The highest Footsie risers today were BAT up 41p to 1137p, AstraZeneca rising 78p to 2558p, Royal Dutch Shell B adding 47p to 1806p and BPB up 17p to 714p.
The heaviest fallers were Rolls-Royce down 7.5p to 334.5p, Hays falling 2.75p to 128p, Friends Provident off 3.75p to 182.25p and Barclays down 10.5p to 557p.
