LONDON MARKETS: FTSE 100 Slips To Around 2-week Low As Pound Rises
2017年11月20日 - 7:24PM
Dow Jones News
By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
Utility shares slip; German political uncertainty rattles
markets
British blue-chip stocks fell Monday, pulling the FTSE 100
toward a two-week low, as utilities shares slipped and a rise in
the pound put some pressure on exporters.
A collapse in talks between German political parties aimed at
forming a governing coalition sent ripples through markets, as it
put German Chancellor Angela Merkel's leadership in doubt and
raised the prospect of a snap election.
Meanwhile, energy stocks were mixed as the parent company of
British Gas said it will make changes to the tariffs it offers to
customers.
What markets are doing: The FTSE 100 index lost 0.4% to
7,351.18, with only the consumer services sector printing a small
rise. The basic materials and financial groups were losing the
most.
The London benchmark was on track for its seventh loss in eight
sessions. On Friday, it slipped 0.1%
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ftse-100-dips-as-pound-rises-on-news-mueller-subpoenaed-trump-campaign-2017-11-17)
and logged a weekly decline of 0.7%.
The pound traded at $1.3246, up from $1.3216 late Friday in New
York. Against the euro, sterling bought EUR1.1249, pulling back
from EUR1.1207 late Friday.
What's moving markets: The breakdown of the negotiations to form
a "Jamaica" governing coalition of parties in Germany rattled
London-listed shares alongside the euro and European equities.
On Sunday, the pro-business Free Democratic Party ended talks
about forming a coalition government
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/euro-plummets-as-uncertainty-in-germany-rattles-markets-2017-11-19)
with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the center-left
Greens. That puts Merkel's fourth term as chancellor in doubt, as
well as raising the prospect of a minority government and perhaps
eventually a new general election if the situation can't be
resolved.
But German equities and the euro pared earlier losses following
a Monday report that the FDP said it would support a minority
government.
The pound was higher across the board. The move came after
Chancellor Philip Hammond signaled the U.K. is prepared to increase
the payment by the U.K. to leave the European Union -- the
so-called divorce bill. Media reports said the payment could be
raised by by EUR20 billion to more than EUR40 billion, closing in
on the EUR60 billion the EU has asked for.
May, whose leadership has been weakened by ministerial losses,
meets with her cabinet on Monday to hash out the issue of the
divorce bill.
What strategists are saying: "There is now a very real
possibility that Angela Merkel may lose her position as German
Chancellor with the prospect of new German elections increasingly
likely. This may be some way off happening for now, but the markets
are reacting," said Richard Perry, market analyst at Hantec
Markets.
"The pound is better bid as Chancellor Philip Hammond could
agree to pay a higher EU divorce bill, which could help moving on
with the Brexit negotiations," said LCG senior market analyst Ipek
Ozkardeskaya.
"If the U.K. decides to increase its bid for a Brexit deal, the
chances of fiscal gifts will likely be limited. Chancellor Hammond
will likely display a cautious budget plan and the Bank of England
will likely stay accommodative," Ozkardeskaya said.
The budget will be presented on Wednesday.
Stock movers: Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) was fractionally higher
after the British Gas parent said it's planning withdraw its
standard variable tariff
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/centrica-to-pull-back-on-standard-variable-tariff-2017-11-20)
for new customers and encourage existing customers to move to other
products.
National Grid PLC (NG.LN) shares slipped 0.2%. SSE PLC (SSE.LN)
was down 0.5% after energy regulator Ofgem said it will investigate
the company's "cheapest tariff" messaging in its annual
statements.
Mediclinic International PLC (MDC.LN) fell 3.3% after the
private hospital company said it's ditching plans to make an offer
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mediclinic-no-longer-plans-to-make-offer-for-spire-2017-11-20)
to buy Spire Healthcare Group PLC (SPI.LN) . Spire shares fell 5.3%
on the mid-cap FTSE 250 index.
Glencore PLC (GLEN.LN) shed 0.9% after the mining company said
it has nominated three directors to Katanga Mining Ltd. (KAT.T) to
oversee efforts to strengthen corporate governance at the copper
mine.
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/glencore-to-strengthen-oversight-of-katanga-mine-2017-11-20)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 20, 2017 05:09 ET (10:09 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
FTSE 100
指数チャート
から 3 2024 まで 4 2024
FTSE 100
指数チャート
から 4 2023 まで 4 2024