U.K. stocks rose Monday as equity markets worldwide appeared to stabilize following last week’s slump, which was driven by concerns about a potential global trade war.
How markets are moving
The FTSE 100 index UKX, +0.45% gained 0.4% to 6,946.90, rallying somewhat after finishing last week at its lowest level since December 2016. The London benchmark endured a weekly drop of 3.4%, its biggest such fall since the week ended Feb. 9. It is down 9.6% so far this year and lower by 5.3% over the past 12 months.
The pound GBPUSD, +0.5094% changed hands at $1.4188, up from $1.4133 late Friday in New York.
What’s driving markets
Fears about a possible trade war have weighed on markets around the world this month, helped by news that U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for tariffs on Chinese products totaling up to $60 billion.
See: Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock execs urge Trump to support free trade
But such concerns may be abating on Monday, thanks to reports that Washington and Beijing are talking behind the scenes to avoid a trade war.
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What strategists are saying
“Markets have been focusing on the growing threat of a trade war between the U.S. and China. But most of the reaction seems to have been on Friday,” said Marshall Gittler, chief strategist at ACLS Global, in a note.
“U.S. stock futures ESM8, +1.35% were actually trading higher, suggesting a better opening in New York, after U.S. Treasury Secretary [Steve] Mnuchin said he’s ‘cautiously hopeful’ that the U.S. and China will reach an agreement to avoid tariffs,” Gittler added.
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Stock movers
London-listed shares in Ireland-based Smurfit Kappa Group PLC SKG, -4.25% SK3, -3.34% SMFKY, +0.76% fell 3.5% after the packaging-and-paper company rejected a revised bid from International Paper Co. IP, -2.45% that offered shareholders a total of 37.54 euros ($46.37) a share.
Engineering company GKN PLC’s stock GKN, +0.72% added 0.3% after U.S. car parts company Dana Inc. DAN, -2.56% said Monday that it increased its offer for GKN’s Driveline business by $140 million, bringing it to a total of $1.78 billion plus $1 billion in pension liabilities and 133 million Dana shares issued to GKN shareholders.
GKN has been fighting off a hostile offer from turnaround specialist Melrose Industries PLC MRO, +1.00% , a component of the mid-cap FTSE 250. Melrose shares were up 0.2% on Monday.