U.K. equities ended Tuesday's session with a broadly positive tone as sector strength in Automobiles & Parts, Mobile Telecommunications and Software & Computer Services powered gains on the main index.
At the close in London the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 was up 0.78%.
The session's top performers included Airtel Africa Plc (LON:AAF), which climbed 5.40% or 19.40 points to finish at 378.40, marking an all-time high for the stock. Banking and financials saw support from Standard Chartered PLC (LON:STAN), which added 3.45% or 53.50 points to end at 1,603.50. 3I Group PLC (LON:III) also rose, gaining 2.90% or 85.00 points to close at 3,020.00.
Among the names that lagged, B&M European Value Retail SA (LON:BMEB) fell 1.67% or 3.00 points to close at 177.00. Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB) declined 1.20% or 39.00 points to finish at 3,215.00, while Halma PLC (LON:HLMA) dropped 1.15% or 44.00 points to 3,794.00.
Market breadth on the London Stock Exchange favored rising issues, with 1,052 stocks advancing versus 724 decliners and 530 left unchanged.
Commodities markets showed modest gains in the session. Gold futures for April delivery increased 0.15% or 7.70 to $5,009.90 a troy ounce. Oil prices climbed noticeably: crude for May delivery rose 2.70% or 2.50 to $94.96 a barrel, while the May Brent contract gained 2.49% or 2.50 to trade at $102.71 a barrel.
In foreign exchange trading, GBP/USD was essentially unchanged at 1.33, registering a 0.21% move, while EUR/GBP was near flat at 0.86, moving 0.01%. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.11% at 99.36.
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Note: All prices, percentage moves and counts are reported as of the close in London on the trading day described.