Yahoo Finance FTSE 100 predicted to open higher as latest easing of lockdown on April 12 nears
The FTSE 100 is forecast to open higher on Friday
(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)The FTSE 100 was set to open higher on Friday, after yesterday reaching its highest point in over a year.
Momentum has been improving ahead of this Monday, when the lockdown starts to ease further. From that date ‘non-essential’ retailers, such as high street clothing and jewellery brands, can reopen shops, and pubs and restaurants can open to serve people outdoors.
London’s blue chip index yesterday rose 56.9 points to 6942.22, its highest level since late February 2020.
CMC Markets traders today expected the FTSE 100 to open 8 points higher at 6950.
Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: “It’s been another record-breaking week for stock markets this past few days with new record highs for the S&P500, DAX, Stoxx600 and the FTSE250.”
He added: “European markets look set to open in positive territory this morning, as they look to continue where they left off yesterday.”
This morning investors may look at airlines and holiday companies as they digest the latest from transport secretary Grant Shapps.
A framework to chart the safe return of international travel has been set out today.
The government said a traffic light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel, will be set up to protect the public and the vaccine rollout from international COVID-19 variants.
More details can be found here.
It is planned that by early May the government will set out which countries will fall into which category, as well as confirming whether international travel can resume from May 17.
Meanwhile, later this morning the Halifax House Price Index for March will be published. That should shed some light on average UK house prices in a month where the Budget delivered news that would likely boost the housing market, such as the extension of the stamp duty holiday deadline.
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