FTSE 100 edges higher as travel stocks rise, Sensex off to positive start

Europe

Stock markets in London edged higher on Monday carried by airlines, after the head of the European Commission signalled that the European Union may open its borders to non-essential travel from the US by summer.

The index of premiere shares ended the session up 24 points or 0.35 per cent, at 6,963, moving closer to 7,000 after Monday’s crash. While the domestically focused FTSE 250 also had a positive session, ending 205 points or 0.92 per cent up at 22,577.

Travel restrictions easing in EU and vaccine passports in the US helped build positive sentiment for investors.

Meanwhile, the US stocks saw another rally as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq reached more record highs on Wall Street as investors brace for a deluge of earnings reports from big US companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 per cent, the Nasdaq rose 0.9 per cent, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2 per cent.

On Tuesday, Asian stocks traded lower despite positive global cues, as investors await the Bank of Japan’s interest rate decision. Stocks in Shanghai Tokyo, Hong Kong and South Korea declined in the morning session.

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Indian markets on the other hand managed a positive start on Tuesday amid a mixed trend globally. The Sensex opened 0.08 per cent, or 37 points, higher at 48,424, while the Nifty50 index opened at 14,493, up 9 points, or 0.06 per cent.