MARKET REPORT

LONDON’S top 100 companies saw earlier gains pared back as the market eked out sluggish growth at the end of what proved to be the third worst week in the index’s history. The FTSE 100 closed yesterday up 128.63 to 5,366.11, a 2.5% rise on the day.

Traders may be able to take heart from the index’s growth a day after it lost nearly 11% of its value. However, the FTSE handed back the rise of almost 8.8% it had reached at around midday on Friday.

It leaves the index down 1,096.44 points, or 16.97%, since the close last Friday, a nearly 12-year low.

posted a 6.15p win to 171p after it became the first major UK supermarket to agree to pay all small suppliers immediately to ensure businesses do not collapse due to coronavirus.

Private hospital operator

said it has offered its support to the NHS’ fight against coronavirus. Shares rose 3.35p to 87.75p.

was up 0.16p to 15.16p as it suspended cruise operations until May 1 and warned that the move will knock its profits.

a UK-based specialist in commercialising university intellectual property, revealed one its businesses, The Vaccine Group, is working on a Covid-19 vaccine for animals. Frontier’s shares rose strongly by 6.5p to 65p.

The top winners on the FTSE 100 were up 25.4p to 228.8p, up 114.2p to 1,054p, up 306p to 3,274p,

106p to 1,183p, and

up 109.5p and 512.6p. up to 1,320.5p.

The biggest losers were down 128p to 1,161p, down 25.2p to 360p, down 8.1p to 148.55p, down 28p to 526.6p, down 26p to