UK stocks finish higher as banks, AstraZeneca climb (updated)

First Citizens Bancshares (Tennessee)

27/03/2023 09:59

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        * 
      AstraZeneca rises on late-stage drug trial success
    

        * 
      UK GDP eyed later in the week
    

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      FTSE 100 up 0.9%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%
    

  
 (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments
to close)
    By Johann M  Cherian and Shashwat Chauhan
       March 27 (Reuters) - London stocks rose on Monday with
the FTSE 100 finishing nearly 1% higher as bank stocks climbed
after fears of a global banking meltdown eased, while
AstraZeneca rose after it gave a positive update on a drug
trial.
    The blue-chip FTSE 100  .FTSE  gained 0.9% at close, while
the more domestically focussed FTSE 250 micap index  .FTMC  also
added 0.2%.
    Banks  .FTNMX301010  rose 1.3%, rebounding from a 3% drop in
the previous session as U.S. lender First Citizens BancShares
Inc  FCNCA.O  said it would purchase the loans and deposits of
failed Silicon Valley Bank, easing investor angst about the
global financial system.
    Christopher Peters, trading floor manager at Accendo Markets
said the recent developments in the banking sector are easing
concerns of a crisis.
    "It's a move to quell the concerns across the system,"
Peters said, adding "it may well be a case that the banks can
find a bit of respite."
    With another week left to wrap up the month, London's FTSE
100 is on track to decline more than 1% for the quarter and post
its worst March performance since 2020 as concerns of banking
crisis ratcheted up market volatility. 
     AstraZeneca Plc  AZN.L  hit a three week high, gaining 1.6%
after the drugmaker reported that its Eplontersen drug showed
positive results in a late-stage trial among hereditary
transthyretin patients.
    Energy majors Shell  SHEL.L  and BP  BP.L  also helped
gains, rising 1.5% and 2.1% respectively, taking the broader
energy sector  .FTNMX601010  up 1.7% as crude prices rose.  O/R 
    Meanwhile, British retailers reported their first positive
sales expectations in seven months, according to a survey
published by the Confederation of British Industry, adding to
other recent signs of recovery in the economy.
    Later this week, investors would be looking out for UK GDP
data for the fourth quarter, a crucial stress point in gauging
the state of the economy as it battles double digit inflation
and surging interest rates.

 (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Shashwat Chauhan in
Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and David Gregorio)
 ((johann.mcherian@thomsonreuters.com;))
 
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