FTSE 100 firmly in positive territory as investors look forward to lockdown

• FTSE 100 closes ahead
• FTSE 250 hits intraday record
• and Just Eat ahead
• US stocks lower

5pm: FTSE finishes ahead

FTSE 100 closed the mid-week session not far off a  percentage point ahead as traders continue to bask in lockdown easing optimism.

Britain’s blue-chip index of leading shares finished up nearly 62 points, or 0.91% higher at 6,885, while midcap FTSE 250 was nearing a record high, closing 166 points ahead at 22,160.

The UK’s vaccine rollout continues apace, while the UK medicines regulator the MHRA said on Wednesday that the risk of a rare blood clots following an Oxford-AstraZeneca jab remains “extremely small” and those who have received their first dose should continue to be offered a second dose of the same jab.

Among notable risers amid the midcap FTSE 250, () shares were buoyed 5.39% higher to 1,799p as the cruise ship operator said advance bookings remained strong, while its cash burn had also decreased.

On Wall Street, stocks were moving in the other direction as the Feed meeting minutes were awaited. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 62 points, while the S&P 500 slipped 1.73 and the Nasdaq lost nearly 14 points.

4.11pm: Vaccine hopes drive UK market higher

Leading UK shares are still firmly in positive territory, buoyed by the prospect of lockdown starting to ease next week and the continuing success overall of the vaccine programme, with the Moderna jab beginning its rollout.

The FTSE 100 is up 68.53 points or 1% at 6892.08, despite a sluggish start on Wall Street as investors hold fire ahead of the minutes from the last Federal Reserve policy meeting. All three main US indices are now in positive territory however.

The blue chip index is set for its highest close since February last year.  Meanwhile the FTSE 250 hit a new record high of 22,182 and despite slipping back a little is still up 159.3 points or 0.72% at 22,153.78.

Michael Hewson at CMC Markets said: “The rebound in the FTSE250 from the lows last year at 12,373.5 has been particularly impressive despite the devastation wrought on big parts of the UK economy.

“Some of the best performers over the past 12 months have been the likes of AO World, Royal Mail, Watches of Switzerland, who have seen gains in excess of 200%. We’ve also seen solid rebounds in the likes of Frasers Group, Signature Aviation and Virgin Money whose share prices have more than doubled.

“In terms of underperformers there are just under 20 stocks..that haven’t posted a gain in the last 12 months, including the likes of Hiscox, Babcocks, and .”

Back with the FTSE 100 and with signs of the economy recovering, commodity companies are gaining ground, with () up 162p or 2.88% at 5789p.

Food delivery firms are also in demand, with NV () the biggest riser in the leading index, up 356p or 5.22% at 7176p. Beleaguered rival () – despite facing a strike by drivers demanding better pay and conditions – is up 2.04% or 5.7p at 295.7p. Still nowhere near the 390p flotation price of course.

3.40pm: Proactive North America headlines:

BioHarvest Sciences Inc () () (FRA:8MV) delivers record 1Q sales for its flagship functional food product VINIA in Israel

(NYSEAMERICAN:AIM) reports no serious adverse events in dosing of Cohort 1 in Phase 1 study of Ampligen drug’s safety as an intranasal therapy

Great Panther Mining Limited (TSE:GPR) (NYSEAMERICAN:GPL) reveals promising new open pit drill results from its Tucano gold operation in Brazil

DGTL Holdings Inc () () (FRA:A2QB0L) subsidiary Hashoff wins PGA Masters social media content campaign for Nasdaq company

Ltd () (OTCQX:OGGFF) (FRA:9CW1) expands its Hand-Picked Partner program to include baked goods and sushi

GGX Gold Corp () (OTCQB:GGXXF) (FRA:3SR2) posts “significant results” from drilling at Perky vein, Gold Drop property

Inc () () (FRA:1O2)  touts C$48M war chest to advance Coil…