The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.19% Higher

The FTSE 100 edged slightly higher on Monday, outperforming weaker European peers as gains in heavyweight oil stocks and a strong update from Compass supported the index. Shell rose 0.6% and BP added 0.9% as Brent crude climbed back above $105 per barrel after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal as “totally unacceptable.” Compass jumped more than 3.5% after raising its full year profit guidance, helped by acquisitions and improving margins, with analysts pointing to stronger expected growth in the second half of the year. International Airlines Group also gained around 4% following strong first quarter results that showed a 77% increase in operating profit. On the downside, defence related stocks weakened, with BAE Systems down 1.5%, Babcock falling 2.8% and Rolls Royce slipping 1.2%.

The FTSE 100 Index is gaining 20 points or 0.19 percent on Monday. Leading the gains are Compass (3.80%), International Airlines Group (3.43%) and Airtel Africa (3.16%). Top losers are JD Sports Fashion (-2.38%), 3i (-2.12%) and Persimmon (-1.98%).

The FTSE 100 Index dropped 49 points or 0.48 percent on Friday to close at 10228 points. Losses were led by Babcock International (-4.32%), Rolls-Royce (-3.29%) and Easyjet Plc (-3.13%). Offsetting the fall, top gainers were BT (5.64%), JD Sports Fashion (4.36%) and Whitbread (2.80%).