Source: Sharecast
The FTSE 100 was trading just 0.1% higher at 8,998.98 in early deals, as it continues to teeter around the 9,000 mark. The current record close was set on 14 July at 8,998.06.
The UK benchmark has been relatively rangebound over the past week, following a near-3% increase over the past month and a 17% surge since the yearly lows of around 7,700 reached in early April.
"The premier index is still attracting attention as an investment destination, testing new highs as investors continue to appreciate stability of earnings, defensive sectors and an average dividend yield in excess of 3.3% which boosts the total return," said Richard Hunter, head of market at Interactive Investor.
"A marginally higher gold price and a risk-on approach lifted the mining sector in early trade, with the FTSE100 edging higher once more and now up by a touch over 10% in the year to date.”
There will be no official economic data for investors to digest over Monday and Tuesday, though figures from Rightmove released earlier showed that the average house price in the UK fell by 1.2% in July to £373,709. The slide – the biggest monthly drop recorded for July since Rightmove began collating data in 2001 – was attributed to an ongoing jump in the amount of homes coming to market.
BP names former CRH boss as new chair
Energy major BP edged higher after announcing that former CRH boss Albert Manifold will succeed Helge Lund, following the chair's resignation in April. BP said that Manifold was the "ideal candidate" following a "rigorous and comprehensive global search".
Strong gains from the mining sectors were supporting markets early on, with Glencore, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Anglo America and Fresnillo among the best performers.
EasyJet was also on the rise after low-cost carrier peer Ryanair more than doubled first-quarter profits, driven by a sharp jump in fare rises.
Molecular technology business Oxford Nanopore said that it had delivered a "strong" first half performance, with reported revenues expected to be up by a quarter year-on-year, though shares were down 2% early on.
MoneySuperMarket-owner Mony Group was a heavy faller, dropping 6% despite reiterating its full-year guidance as the company reportted ongoing weakness in the car insurance market. Group revenues in the six months to 30 June nudged up just 1%, to £225.3m, but insurance revenues fell 2%.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,998.98 0.08%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,933.74 0.16%
techMARK (TASX) 5,182.79 -0.15%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Glencore (GLEN) 312.75p 3.03%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,918.50p 2.68%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,599.50p 2.50%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,288.00p 2.46%
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,465.00p 1.38%
easyJet (EZJ) 506.40p 1.30%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,046.00p 1.15%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 384.20p 1.00%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,145.00p 0.93%
BP (BP.) 403.10p 0.80%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,054.00p -0.94%
Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (PSH) 4,160.00p -0.91%
WPP (WPP) 414.90p -0.88%
Flutter Entertainment (DI) (FLTR) 22,620.00p -0.88%
BAE Systems (BA.) 1,925.50p -0.75%
Diageo (DGE) 1,916.00p -0.67%
Relx plc (REL) 3,931.00p -0.63%
Haleon (HLN) 356.60p -0.59%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,999.00p -0.55%
St James's Place (STJ) 1,191.00p -0.46%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) 171.60p 17.05%
Rank Group (RNK) 152.00p 3.26%
Hays (HAS) 67.00p 2.45%
Bellway (BWY) 2,600.00p 2.36%
Elementis (ELM) 171.00p 1.91%
Savills (SVS) 974.00p 1.78%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,062.00p 1.53%
BlackRock Greater Europe Inv Trust (BRGE) 607.00p 1.51%
Ibstock (IBST) 153.20p 1.46%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 568.00p 1.43%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Mony Group (MONY) 205.40p -6.30%
Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 326.00p -4.40%
Wickes Group (WIX) 220.50p -3.50%
Dr. Martens (DOCS) 76.50p -3.35%
Auction Technology Group (ATG) 465.00p -3.13%
Indivior (INDV) 1,180.00p -1.50%
Discoverie Group (DSCV) 712.00p -1.39%
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust (JMG) 118.40p -0.84%
JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust (JFJ) 621.00p -0.80%
Senior (SNR) 194.40p -0.72%