Index up despite traders’ caution

London’s blue chip index edged up yesterday as traders remained cautious amid simmering tensions between Russia and the US over Syria.

The FTSE 100 closed higher by 6.22 points or 0.09% to 7,264.6, while Germany’s Dax was up by 0.22% and France’s Cac 40 was up by 0.11%.

There were no key economic announcements in the UK yesterday, but the pound climbed against the dollar, and was up by 0.16% to 1.425.

Sterling also strengthened against the euro, rising by 0.17% to 1.156.

In oil markets, Brent crude prices pushed 0.75% higher to $72.68 a barrel, with rises fuelled by tensions in the Middle East.

In UK stocks, Sage Group’s shares plummeted after the software firm revised down its forecast for annual sales, following a poor first half. Shares fell by 55p to 617p during the day’s trading.