The FTSE 100 jumped 1.7% on Thursday after weaker-than-expected US jobs figures dampened market worries of an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate hike. The blue-chip index closed up 174.53 points at 10,652.87, while the FTSE 250 added 0.4% and the AIM All-Share edged up 0.2%. European markets also rallied, with the Cac 40 up 1.7% and the Dax 40 up 2.2%. US non-farm payrolls rose by just 57,000 in June, well below the 110,000 consensus, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dipped to 4.2%. Analysts said the data pushed back market odds for a July rate hike, shifting focus to the upcoming consumer price inflation release. On the FTSE 100, defence contractors Babcock International and BAE Systems both surged 5.5%, while drug heavyweights AstraZeneca and GSK climbed 4.9% and 3.8% respectively. Capricorn Energy soared 20% after accepting a 360 million dollar cash offer from Genel Energy.
AstraZeneca PLC
GSK plc
BAE Systems plc
Babcock International Group PLC
Capricorn Energy PLC
Genel Energy Plc