UK stocks traded higher on Friday, buoyed by Brexit deal hopes and growing confidence that a US stimulus deal would be approved.At the close the FTSE 100 was up 40 points or 0.7% to 6,019, back above the 6,000 level for the first time in more than three weeks. Gains were broad-based with nearly four sectors up for every sector which lost ground.Top gainers were aerospace, mining and tech...

UK stocks traded higher on Friday, buoyed by Brexit deal hopes and growing confidence that a US stimulus deal would be approved.At midday the FTSE 100 was up 40 points or 0.7% to 6,018, lifted by buying across most sectors. Property stocks were well bid, along with miners and energy producers. Utilities and house builders were weaker after their recent out-performance.Sterling was steady at...

UK stocks opened higher on Friday, buoyed by Brexit deal hopes and a US stimulus deal passing, and despite rising Covid-19 cases and worries of the introduction of further measures to restrict the spread of the virus.Official data showed the UK economy growing at a slower than expected rate of 2.1% for the third quarter.At 9am the FTSE 100 was 0.4% higher at 6,000 points.In China the Shanghai...