Sterling slides as FTSE jumps

Sterling fell to a one-week low against the dollar yesterday, as strong US jobs data and disappointing UK industry and trade figures weighed on the currency.

The pound fell nearly 0.7% against the greenback to 1.288, and dropped 0.5% to 1.129 against the euro as investors reacted to a string of economic releases from both sides of the Atlantic.

In oil markets, Brent crude dropped 2.4% to 46.82 US dollars per barrel after data showed a rise in US oil production, while Opec exports rose for a second month straight to its highest level in 2017.

The FTSE 100 ended the day higher by 0.19% or 13.64 points at 7,350.92 points.

The biggest risers were easy Jet up 72p to 1,419p, Centrica up 5.8p to 207.7p, and Rolls-Royce Holdings up 21p to 936.5p.

The biggest fallers were Royal Mail down 14.2p to 410.3p, ITV down 5.3p to 176.6p, WPP down 41p to 1,569p, and Kingfisher down 4.8p to 304.9p.