© Reuters.
Key Points
- FTSE 100 closing price of 7155, -0.9%
- Ultra Electronics agrees to takeover
- Future PLC shares higher after deal for Dennis Publishing
- Oil falls following soft China, US data
- USD marginally higher
- Bitcoin firm above 200DMA
By Samuel Indyk
Investing.com – The declined alongside other global equity benchmarks on Monday as global growth fears remained elevated on the back of some soft Chinese and US data.
On Friday, the reading started the data misses, and this continued into Monday’s Asia-Pacific trading session when both Chinese and figures missed estimates. The weak data coupled with rising Covid cases in China and the region increases fears of a slowing global recovery in the second half.
The data weighed on global markets and crude oil with and approaching the early August and mid-July lows.
“The latest spread of the delta variant will be a worry for jet fuel demand, particularly in China,” ING analysts said in an emailed research note.
The lower oil prices weighed on shares of energy giants BP (LON:) and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:), as well as smaller players Cairn Energy (LON:) and Tullow Oil (LON:).
On the more positive side, Ultra Electronics (LON:) finished at the top of the after agreeing to be taken over by US-based rival Cobham (LON:).
Shares in Future PLC (LON:) also rallied after the company announced an agreement to buy Dennis Publishing for £300 million. Future said the deal for Dennis – owner of publications such as “The Week” and “PC Pro” – is expected to boost its earnings significantly.
The USD was marginally stronger amid the soft global data. Safe havens, such as and , were also strong following the data and amid the geopolitical picture in Afghanistan where the Taliban have captured the capital city, Kabul. However, the ranges were not large as traders look ahead to key releases this week, including the on Wednesday.
was largely unchanged despite the latest UK falling for the first time this year.
and other major cryptocurrencies continue to show strength after breaking above the 50% Fibonacci retracement level from the April high to July low around $47,000.
“Bitcoin finally broke $47,000 earlier today but once again it made new highs without the corresponding surge in momentum which isn’t ideal,” writes OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam. “This loss of momentum on route to $50,000 isn’t exactly filling me with confidence.”
The recent surge in continued with the digital token moving above to become the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market cap, after the developers announced the Alonzo Purple upgrade will take place next month. The upgrade will bring smart contracts to the Cardano network.
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