The City of London witnessed a mixed trading session on Tuesday, as property sector woes were offset by broader market optimism. The FTSE 100 demonstrated resilience, closing up 0.4 per cent at 8,136.99 during the shortened Christmas Eve trading session.
Vistry Group sent shockwaves through the property sector with its third profit warning in three months, causing its shares to plummet 16.3 per cent to 547½p. The reverberations were felt across the industry, with Persimmon experiencing a 2.4 per cent decline to £11.82, whilst other major housebuilders also saw their shares slide.
Despite the property sector’s troubles, telecommunications giant Airtel Africa emerged as the day’s standout performer, rising 3.9 per cent to 113p. High street retailers provided additional festive cheer, with Next, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco all posting gains as last-minute Christmas shoppers boosted sentiment.
The FTSE 250 managed to shake off Vistry’s decline, advancing 0.75 per cent to 20,571.51. Oxford Nanopore led the mid-cap gains, climbing 5.3 per cent to 135p, while Ithaca Energy rose 3.9 per cent following promising hydrocarbon discoveries at its Jocelyn South project.
Looking at the broader picture for 2024, the FTSE 100 is poised to secure its fourth consecutive year of growth, despite October’s wobble following Labour’s first budget. The year’s stellar performers include IAG, British Airways’ parent company, up 95 per cent to 302p, and engineering powerhouse Rolls-Royce, which has surged 92 per cent to 576p.
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