MARKET REPORT

THE London markets edged higher despite a surge in the pound as traders clung hopefully to speculation that the UK could be nearing a deal with the EU.

The FTSE 100 closed 26.88 points higher at 6,490.27 at the end of trading yesterday.

The pound jumped by 0.93 per cent versus the US dollar at 1.349 and was 0.64 per cent up against the euro at 1.110. The German Dax dipped 0.45 per cent while the French Cac lost 0.15 per cent.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil increased by 0.09 per cent to 48.47 US dollars.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Rolls- Royce, up 18.15p at 134.9p, Flutter, up 935p at 14,300p, BT, up 8.1p at 134,45p, and Antofagasta, up 63.5p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Just Eat Takeaway, down 240p at 7,790p, Unilever, down 116p at 4,283p, AstraZeneca, down 208p at 7,729p, and Severn Trent, down 35p at 2,357p.