MARKET REPORT

sion.barry@walesonline.co.uk LONDON’S blue-chip index made gains yesterday as the pound continued to fall on expectations that the Bank of England would delay an interest rate rise.

The FTSE 100 climbed 30.7 points to 7,398.87 over the session, while the pound fell by 0.36% against the US dollar to 1.395.

Against the euro, the pound rose 0.18% to 1.141.

In oil markets, Brent crude prices climbed 0.89% to $74.24 per barrel.

In UK stocks, Capita’s share price surged despite its chief executive Jon Lewis announcing a £513 million loss. He also said the firm was tapping investors for £700 million.

The proceeds of the rights issue, part of a major overhaul, will be used to reduce Capita’s debt and make investments. The group was hammered earlier this year after warning over profits, but its shares soared 13.14% or 21p to 180.8p yesterday.

Shares in Clarkson tumbled as the shipping services giant warned over profits after being blown off course by a “challenging environment”.

By the end of the session, shares were down by 17.87% or 555p to 2,550p.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has said he is considering intervening in the planned purchase of the Express and Star national titles by Trinity Mirror. The company’s shares fell 1.8p to 82.6p by the end of trading.

Biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were St James’s Place up 37p to 1,146.5p, Old Mutual up 6.6p to 249.2p and Experian up 33.5p to 1,640p.

Biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Bunzl down 55p to 2,075p, WPP down 28.5p to 1,118p and National Grid down 16.4p to 796.5p.