The FTSE 100 closed up 71.78 points at 7995.58, after nudging a record intraday high at 8,044.98 earlier. That was just off its previous intraday record of 8,047.06, set in February 2023.
The British economy expanded by 0.1 per cent in February, in line with expectations, fresh data from the Office for National Statistics shows.
The ONS has also upgraded January’s growth figure from 0.2 to 0.3 per cent, pointing to signs of a quick exit from the recession of late 2023.
Among the companies with reports and trading updates today is Petrofac. Read the Friday 12 April Business Live blog below.
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FTSE 100 closes up 71.78 points at 7995.58
BP shares rise after reports UAE oil company has pondered takeover
Poundland won’t go back to selling items for a pound, boss confirms
Founder of health app Zoe announces a series of redundancies
Bank of England staff use ‘out-of-date’ software to make economic forecasts
Construction sector hammered by wet weather and high interest rates
FTSE 100 approaches record high
SMALL CAP MOVERS: Harvest Minerals shows growth thanks to fertiliser
Tax rebate firm Brooksdale set to enter liquidation
FCA warns lenders to bolster cash reserves amid motor finance probe
One in five tenants are spending over half of their salary on rent
Top FTSE 350 fallers are…
Fresnillo shares top FTSE 350 risers
Recruitment issues for businesses revealed in study
Petrofac may swap a ‘significant proportion’ of debt for equity
Peak season for pension withdrawals is the start of new tax year
How Chinese retailer Miniso is looking to take the UK market by storm
Why is bitcoin halving next week – and how could it impact the value?
Why Bond Street is STILL in fashion: Luxury brands flock to London hotspot
Market open: FTSE 100 up 0.8%; FTSE 250 adds 0.9%
FCA motor finance probe warning
‘The ship has turned’: JP Morgan backs Marks & Spencer
‘The ship has turned’: JP Morgan backs Marks & Spencer
GDP on course for 0.3% growth for Q1
Petrofac debt restructuring talks
Wet weather hammered construction sector
Construction weighs on GDP growth