DAVID MYRDDIN-EVANS
UK shares started on mildly positive note with rising metal prices helping miners take the FTSE 100 higher. Anglo American, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, all rose by more than 2.5%.
There was caution sparked by the decision concerning the triggering of Article 50 and a rate decision by the US Federal Reserve later this week.
The FTSE 100 closed up 0.33% or 24 points to 7,367.08 on Monday.
In early trading on Tuesday the FTSE 100 was slightly higher as the pound hit an eight-week low against the dollar following Parliament’s vote to give Prime Minister Theresa May the go-ahead to trigger Article 50 and start the Brexit process.
At 0830 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.1% to 7,371.08.
The FTSE 100 was down 0.4% overall last week, with a series of daily losses only partly offset by gains on Friday.
BT led Friday’s blue-chip risers, up 3.7% after striking a deal with regulator Ofcom to legally separate its Openreach network arm.
BP was also up 3.7% on bid speculation, helping the FTSE 100 to a 0.4% gain on the day.
Wm Morrison dived 6.6% on Thursday on poorly received results.
But following broker upgrades, British Airways owner IAG was up 4.2%, while Admiral added 4.4%. The FTSE 100 lost 0.3%.
Budget day on Wednesday saw the FTSE 100 slip 0.1%.
Worldpay jumped 4.8% on wellreceived results, while Randgold Resources dropped 2.3% on negative broker comment.
Paddy Power Betfair plunged 5.9% on Tuesday after annual results showed a slowdown in online gaming growth.
J Sainsbury led the supermarkets higher, up 1.3% as industry data showed improved sales, but the FTSE 100 was down 0.2%.