The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.01% Higher

The UK's FTSE 100 rose 0.3% to around 10,490 on Monday, supported by the oil & gas, telecom and mining stocks. Shares in Ithaca Energy rose 2.8% to the top of the index after agreeing with Suncor to buy a portfolio of conventional offshore oil assets located in shallow waters off the East Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, for up to $1.1 billion. Metlen Energy & Metals gained 1.7% on a long-term gallium supply deal with a Japanese chemical company, covering up to 16% of production from its new facility in Greece. BT Group rose 1.6% following its acquisition of TalkTalk out of administration on a debt-free basis, while National Grid advanced nearly 1% after raising its annual earnings growth outlook.

The FTSE 100 Index is picking up 0.5 points or 0.01 percent on Monday. Gains are led by BT (1.77%), London Stock Exchange (1.33%) and Haleon (1.22%). Biggest losers are 3i (-3.01%), Whitbread (-2.13%) and International Airlines Group (-1.84%).

The FTSE 100 Index went up by 24 points or 0.23 percent on Friday to close at 10452 points. The rise was led by Halma (4.10%), Antofagasta (3.04%) and Anglo American (2.97%). On the downside, the weakerst performers were IG Group Holdings (-21.19%), Babcock International (-2.21%) and Standard Chartered (-2.12%).