U.K. stocks ended Monday's trading session in negative territory as sector-specific declines weighed on the benchmark. The Investing.com United Kingdom 100 slipped 0.26% to close at a new one-month low, driven by weakness among REITs, broader real estate names and home construction-related shares.
At the close in London, energy majors provided some support amid a generally softer market. Shell PLC (LON:SHEL) led gains on the index, finishing up 2.36% - a rise of 74.00 points - to trade at 3,207.00. BP PLC (LON:BP) also advanced, adding 2.23% or 11.10 points to end the session at 510.00, while defense contractor BAE Systems PLC (LON:BAES) rose 2.03% or 45.00 points to close at 2,259.00.
On the downside, Smurfit WestRock PLC (LON:SWR) was the session's weakest performer, sliding 7.14% or 232.00 points to finish at 3,017.00. Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTYV) dropped 5.87% or 26.30 points to close at 421.90, and Persimmon PLC (LON:PSN) fell 5.49% or 71.00 points to 1,223.50.
Broader market breadth reflected the day's tone: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones by 1,404 to 489 on the London Stock Exchange, with 417 issues unchanged at the close.
Notable record and milestone moves were reported among individual names. Shares in Shell PLC rose to all time highs, increasing 2.36% or 74.00 to 3,207.00. BP PLC's shares climbed to 52-week highs, rising 2.23% or 11.10 to 510.00. Conversely, Vistry Group PLC declined to five-year lows, losing 5.87% or 26.30 to 421.90.
In commodities trading, April Gold Futures fell 0.92% or 47.41 to $5,111.29 a troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery gained 4.07% or 3.70 to reach $94.60 a barrel, while the May Brent contract jumped 7.49% or 6.94 to trade at $99.63 a barrel.
Foreign exchange rates were largely subdued. GBP/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.17% to 1.34, and EUR/GBP was also effectively unchanged, shifting 0.09% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.10% to 99.08.
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