FTSE 100 slide accelerates, while Wall Street set for opening fall ahead of Netflix results
The UK blue-chip index continues to fall back from key 7000 level while US markets forecast to show early declines
FTSE 100 down 84 points
Tobacco firms fall
12.38pm: Netflix in focus
Wall Street is set to follow Monday s dips with another opening fall.
All eyes with be on the tech sector, with Netflix releasing results after the US market closes.
Sophie Griffiths at Oanda said: US futures are pointing to a softer start, extending losses from the previous session. Yet even with this pullback, US stocks remain near record highs. The CBOE volatility index, often referred to as the fear gauge, is ticking higher again, suggesting risk-off sentiment is creeping up.
DX Group drives ahead after adding 300 new vehicles to its delivery fleet
A look at the major movers on the London market on Tuesday
DX Group PLC (LON:DX.) has moved higher after delivering expansion news.
The parcels and courier group is up 4.13% or 1.25p to 31.55p after announcing the addition of 300 new vehicles to take its fleet to more than 900 strong.
Chief executive Lloyd Dunn said: [This is] a significant expansion of our fleet, and part of our wider investment programme in the business. The new vehicles support our ambitious growth plans, increasing our capacity and operational efficiency in support of our ambitious growth plans.
FTSE 100 closes 2% lower as coronavirus concerns hit sentiment
Britain s blue-chip index finished down 140 points, or 2%, at 6,859 InterContinental Hotels among the day s fallers
FTSE 100 closes down 2%
Tobacco firms under pressure
5.05pm: FTSE in the red
FTSE 100 closed firmly in the red on Tuesday as coronavirus (COVID-19) fears continued to dampen investor sentiment, while the strong pound didn t help the internationalised share index.
Britain s blue-chip index finished down 140 points, or 2%, at 6,859. FTSE 250 also fell, shedding over 382 points, or 1.7%, at 22,108. European markets have been hit hard today, with rising global coronavirus cases serving as a timely reminder that the pandemic is far from over despite recent vaccination progress, said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at trading group IG.
Petra Diamonds in demand as gem prices recover
A look at the major movers on the London market on Tuesday
3.08pm: Diamond company sparkles
Petra Diamonds Limited (LON:PDL) has a bit of sparkle after its latest update.
Its shares have added 3.33% or 0.05p to 1.55p after it reported a 16% rise in third quarter revenues to US$106mln, with prices back to to pre-COVID-19 levels.
After the period end it sold what it calls an exceptional 11.82 carat blue stone for US$9.5mln and an exceptional 39.34 carat blue stone was recovered, to be sold via special tender.
A successful capital restructuring saw net debt fall from US$700mln to US$290mln.