Footsie up on eve of crunch Us-sino talks

The FTSE 100 rebounded to gain ground after sentiment surrounding Us-sino relations improved.

London’s blue-chip index finished the day 23.35 points higher at 7,166.5 points.

Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index, said: “Traders breathed a sigh of relief that there were no more negative headlines ahead of the Us-sino trade talks, due to start [on Thursday].”

Shareholders in Greene King, the owner of Belhaven Brewery, have overwhelmingly backed a £2.7 billion deal for Hong Kong’s richest family to take over the London-listed brewer and pub owner.

Investors holding 99 per cent of shares in the UK’S biggest pub owner voted for the bid. Shares ended the day almost flat at 847.2p.

Aberdeen Standard Investments, one of the biggest investors in BHP, said it was throwing its weight behind a shareholder motion that would force the mining giant to suspend membership of lobby groups that work against the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. BHP shares closed 0.4 per cent lower at 1,664p.

FTSE 100-listed Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey were among the housebuilders losing ground after a survey by the Federation of Master Builders found demand for new-builds plunged to a six-year-low. It blamed uncertainty over Brexit for weakening confidence among prospective buyers.

Debenhams, whose shares were delisted in April, has signed off a new £50 million loan with existing lenders to help the department store chain to get through the busy Christmas period.