The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.72% Higher

The FTSE 100 Index is picking up 76 points or 0.72 percent on Tuesday. Gains are led by Weir (2.32%), Informa (2.30%) and AstraZeneca (2.17%). Biggest losers are BAE Systems (-0.93%), Babcock International (-0.84%) and M&G (-0.83%).

The FTSE 100 rose to around 10,500 on Tuesday, advancing for a third consecutive session and tracking a broader global equity rally, as easing oil prices helped lift market sentiment. Healthcare stocks led the gains, with AstraZeneca jumping 2.9% after announcing more than $1 billion of investment in Massachusetts, while peer GSK also advanced 1.5%. Financials and miners also gained broadly, with Standard Chartered rising 1.1%, Glencore adding 1.3% and Barclays advancing 0.7%. Informa also rose 0.6% after agreeing to acquire Clarion for £2.24 billion and reviewing options for its Taylor & Francis publishing arm. Meanwhile, energy stocks were mixed, with Shell little changed and BP down 1.0%. BAE Systems also fell around 1%.

The FTSE 100 Index rose 23 points or 0.22 percent on Monday to close at 10485 points. Leading the gains are Ithaca Energy (2.79%), Standard Chartered (2.76%) and Anglo American (2.03%). Top losers were 3i (-6.03%), IG Group Holdings (-3.43%) and Barratt Redrow (-2.77%).