Sterling and FTSE 100 end the day higher

The pound and the London markets both surged higher as strong polling for the Conservatives and reports of an improving Us-china relationship buoyed trading sentiment.

Sterling rebounded from weak economic data last week to jump into the red after initial polls suggested the Tories could win a majority in next month’s election.

The value of the pound increased 0.31% versus the US dollar at 1.289, and up 0.52% against the euro at 1.171.

Typically, a strong performance by the pound can weigh down the internationalfocused FTSE 100, but it shot higher amid reports that the US and China are nearing a trade deal.

London’s top flight closed 69.48 points higher at 7,396.29 at the end of trading yesterday.

The German Dax increased by 0.63% while the French Cac moved 0.55% higher.

In company news, shares in the Restaurant Group slumped after Wagamama, the panasian chain it bought a year ago for £559 million, said it will face industry-wide headwinds in 2020.

Shares in the Restaurant Group plunged by 12.9p to 133.1p at the close of play.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil fell by 0.42% to 63.3 US dollars.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were NMC Health, up 160p at 2,619p, Kingfisher, up 8.3p at 205.3p, and Evraz, up 12.4p at 371.1p.

The biggest fallers were Fresnillo, down 21.4p at 539.6p, Imperial Brands, down 20.4p at 1,669.6p, and Polymetal International, down 6p at 1,151.5p and Rightmove, down 1.6p at 629p.