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The key British stock market index outpaced its European peers on Tuesday, led higher by travel and commodity stocks, as optimism was also buoyed by upbeat manufacturing data.
The FTSE 100
UKX,
the index of London’s top stocks by market capitalization, was hovering around flat, ahead of most other major European indexes, which were deeper into the red. The relative outperformance of the FTSE 100 on Tuesday came after British markets were closed for trading on Monday due to a holiday.
While the broader narrative remains one of economic optimism driven by the diminishing severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, with investors continuing to watch inflation as a risk to markets, airline stocks got a boost from plans to reopen Europe to wider travel.
On Monday, the executive branch of the European Union recommended easing travel restrictions to allow tourists from more countries to enter the 27-member bloc.
Read more: EU proposes reopening external borders as vaccination campaigns pick up speed
Under the European Commission’s proposal, people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with an EU-approved vaccine or who come from a country with “a good epidemiological situation” will be welcome to the region. The EU has approved vaccines from Pfizer
PFE,
Moderna
MRNA,
AstraZeneca
AZN,
and Johnson & Johnson
JNJ,
“News that the European Commission is taking steps to reopen the continent in time for the summer travel season is lifting risk appetite,” said Sophie Griffiths, an analyst at Oanda. “Furthermore, Britain’s expected announcement of a green list for countries that people can travel to is adding further support to travel and tourism stocks.”
U.K. trade minister Liz Truss told Sky News on Tuesday that a “green list” of countries that Brits could travel to without having to isolate upon return is set to be released shortly.
Shares in airlines IAG
IAG,
— which owns British Airways — and easyJet
EZJ,
took off in London trading, with InterContinental Hotels Group’s
IHG,
stock also lifting.
“Adding to the upbeat mood, data revealed that U.K. manufacturing activity hit a 27-year high in April,” Griffiths added.
The IHS manufacturing purchasing managers index rose for the 11th straight month in a row in April to hit 60.9 — the highest reading since 1994.
Other stocks contributing to the FTSE 100’s relative strength were companies exposed to commodities prices.
“The catalyst for this latest move higher is chatter about a commodities supercycle, with oil companies and miners higher as well as continuing optimism about the reopening of the global economy,” said Russ Mould, an analyst at AJ Bell.
Plus: Is there a new commodity supercycle? Maybe not, these analysts say.
Metals and mining stocks Rio Tinto
RIO,
BHP
BHP,
Anglo American
AAL,
Antofagasta
ANTO,
Glencore
GLEN,
Polymetal International
POLY,
and Fresnillo
FRES,
all surged, as did shares in major oil companies BP
BP,
and Royal Dutch Shell
RDSA,
Technology stocks added weakness to London’s key index, with shares in industrial software group Aveva
AVV,
online grocery and robotics logistics group Ocado
OCDO,
and food-delivery player Just Eat Takeaway
JET,
all sinking.
